As kids, we were taught that the Pilgrims came over, sat down with Native Americans and had a wonderful feast…period. We colored happy Pilgrims. Our teachers gave us construction paper to design belt buckles, black Pilgrim hats, and oh yes… Indian feathers. As children, we were given art projects that involved The Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, etc. We innocently and joyfully colored pictures and cut out shapes having no idea what they truly represented.
Fast forward to today, young people are still being fed this watered down story. Don’t get it twisted, spending time with family and giving thanks is great, not to mention, something we should do every day. As we give thanks, let us acknowledge and pray for our indigenous brothers and sisters suffering today from the mass genocide that took place in America; the taking (not giving) of land, and destruction of a culture. Both African and Native Americans have experienced similar struggles here in America. We must be careful not to perpetuate misinformation and we must reverse the miseducation of our youth and our people.
Each year, Native Americans have to watch the rest of the country celebrate a holiday that to them represents a time in history where their land was stolen, their people were massacred and they were eventually forced on to reservations (a nice name for a concentration camp or prison). It’s up to us to make sure our children know the real history that’s not taught in schools.
