I write this with nothing but love and respect, in honor of my American Indian sisters and brothers. Additionally, I dedicate this post to Dr. Greg Phipps, who contributed to my awareness. Thank you, Dr. Phipps.
If you are like me at some point in your childhood, you were probably made to make “Thanksgiving” crafts. Between the ages of 3 and 10, I made countless Pilgrim hats or headbands with feathers. I’ve also “enacted” scenes from the first Thanksgiving. Due to the melanin in my skin, I always played the American Indian girl serving some Becky with the good hair a cornucopia. Then we would all sit down and pretend to celebrate the blessings of our harvest and our new “friendships.”
At home, we heard the same story also. That is the story our parents learned and their parents and so on. So to keep with tradition, my mom would cook a HUGE “Thanksgiving” dinner and invite family over to share. Of course, living in the “Bible Belt,” Jesus was also part of that story. Just before dinner, we would all go around the table and say why we were thankful that year. Then my mom would pray the third-longest prayer of the year (Christmas first, Easter second). We would eat, laugh, celebrate, play games, and have the best time.
My rude, abrupt awakening did not happen until my second round of college in my thirties. I was sitting in a Sociology 101 class listening to my professor, Dr. Greg Phipps, lecture about what happened AFTER that first Thanksgiving. Good Lord! No wonder you don’t learn THAT story. It wasn’t so rainbows and lollipops. I was appalled.
Let me break it down the way I understood it. Let’s say you are living your best life in a big beautiful mansion. The love of your family and friends surrounds you every day. You are so grateful for all your blessings that you do not mind sharing. So when a few strangers from a different country show up at your doorstep, you don’t think twice in welcoming them. They tell you that they have traveled from far to start anew. However, they need help settling, because they don’t know anyone. Since you are a successful entrepreneur, you begin teaching them how to be just as successful. Then after hard work and dedication, they become just as successful, so you throw a big party to celebrate. Everyone has a great time at the party. I mean, it is off the chain! The end, right? Not even close!
So, your new “friends” are living their best life now also BECAUSE you shared your blessings and taught them how to manifest their own. Now, instead of your new “friends” living in harmony with you and being “thankful” for your kindness and compassion, they start wilding out. Since they don’t need you anymore and have dominance complex, they kill you and your family, then take over the company you built. On top of that, they move into YOUR mansion. Does that sound like something you would want to celebrate every year forever? I would not, and am not.
I remember after I picked my jaw up from learning about the rest of the “Thanksgiving” story, I received a permission slip from my son’s teacher. You see, I returned to college for the second time, once my son entered Kindergarten. So at the same time, I took the Sociology class; he was in his first year of school. The permission slip was for him to act in a school play as an American Indian (no doubt because of his melanin) in remembrance of the first Thanksgiving. Um, no. Once you know better, you should do better. That year our traditions changed.
My parents were extremely traditional and did not quite get why this was such a big deal. In respect to my parents, we still had dinner, but as a compromise, I requested we remove the round-table thankful speeches as a start. Over the years, our gathering became more informal. It was about hanging out with family we don’t get to see often and sharing some of our favorite foods we wouldn’t regularly eat. Of course, I would share the “untold story” to whoever would listen.
After my parents passed, I had a chance to create new traditions. So instead of celebrating Thanksgiving, I chose to start observing the National Day of Mourning. “Native American people in New England gather together to protest. To them, Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of the unjust treatment that Native Americans have received since the 1620 Plymouth landing.” This year (2019) is the 50th year of observance. So at noon, my family and I share a moment of silence in remembrance and share a meal in honor. If you can’t change something, change your perspective of it. I cannot rewrite history. However, I can create new traditions that honor and respect that history.
When my friends say “Happy Thanksgiving,” I used to reply with, “I don’t celebrate the systematic genocide of the American Indians.” However, after saying that so many times, I felt like I was looking down from my “high horse.” I mean, that was a bit harsh, when they were genuinely trying to be polite. So now, when people say “Happy Thanksgiving,” I receive but do not return the sentiment. If “Happy Thanksgiving” is your truth, no judgment. However, if I choose for “Happy Thanksgiving” not to be part of my truth, then I ask for the same respect.
I am grateful. However, I am thankful for my blessings every day. I show and tell my family and friends how much I value them regularly. I don’t need a dedicated day to do so.
Ignorance is bliss, trust me, I know. However, if you want to know more, I suggest reading “The Untold Story After the First Thanksgiving” here.
My frequency is shifting, which has awakened my inner goddess. Divine guidance is now leading my journey. Therefore, I am sharing my knowledge and life experiences.
I hope you find the information I provide on this site useful and inspiring. I also hope you will be able to discover your bliss. Following your dreams is a huge part of elevating your joy. Each day you live in that elevation, brings you closer to a living a divinely elevated life of happiness.
If you would like to rise with me, by being an active participant, I invite you to contact me via social media or email. Additionally, if you would like to receive updates when I post, feel free to subscribe below.
Let’s encourage each other and choose to live our best lives in light, love, and happiness!
***No information provided on this site is intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment***
This website uses cookies.
Read More
View Comments