Resolved: Thanksgiving should not be celebrated in the United States.

Ah... so it's the history that's racist! That's an interesting view, I never considered that before.

It might be interesting to note here that my father's family traces one line of ancestry right back to the Pilgrims. One ancestor performed the blessing on the Mayflower when it left from Leyden and his son came to America on a later immigration. I am a direct beneficiary of the Wampanoags' destruction.

One could certainly argue that the value of family togetherness and communal gratitude far outweigh the value of legitimate but ancient resentments making the modern Turkey day a worthy feast celebrating American culture but that don't mean it ain't racist.

The second most popular argument is that the woman who successfully lobbied Abraham Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a holiday also wrote a book supporting the forced migration of black Americans to Liberia (which, considering that the position was predicated on the abolition of slavery was  probably a more liberal position than a modern sensibility might suppose).  The Mother of Thanksgiving was pro-segregation.  Unquestionably racist today but hardly cause sufficient to call off a party, I'd say.

=> How is Thanksgiving racist?

There are a number of facets to the charge but I think I'm in agreement with Dr.Franklin when he suggests that any 400 year old event is likely to be found racist to a modern sensibility.

The main argument is that the original 1621 event featured Pilgrims celebrating their salvation from starvation by the generous aid and instruction of local Wampanoag tribesmen. The Pilgrims took over ready made, abandoned houses and fortifications and farmlands because European disease had killed 95% of the people who lived there two years prior. There was an understanding that the Pilgrims would respect Wampanoag territorial claims and even prevent other European colonists from expansion in the area but as the decades passed these promises lost strength, there were more European immigrants and fewer and fewer Wampanoag's mostly due to European diseases like smallpox and alcoholism. Eventually things got tense and the Pilgrims demanded that the Wampanoags hand over all their guns, which started an outbreak of violence that expanded into King Phillip's War. Most Wampanoags were killed or enslaved and all territorial claims were ignored. From a Wampanoag perspective, the First Thanksgiving was the begining of the end for their people and way of life. If you define America as the white descendants of Pilgrims, then Thanksgiving Day was a win for America. If you define America as all the people who were living in America in 1621 than the First Thanksgiving was more like prologue to apocalypse. Of the 100,000 or so residents of Southeastern Massachusetts in 1600, only about 400 descendants were around 76 years later (about 2,000 survive today).

How is thanks giving racist? I've never heard or thought of thanksgiving like that before.

wow people from 1620 were racist, big shock from 400 years ago!

It's racist? Never heard.

"Frankly I'm not certain I've met a middle aged woman who DOESN'T get all Christmas presents on Black Friday or Cyber Monday"

Now if they just get all of us to do that they only need employees (6% of US jobs) a couple of weeks per year.

bump

Frankly I'm not certain I've met a middle aged woman who DOESN'T get all Christmas presents on Black Friday or Cyber Monday

Respectfully, I disagree with that statement. I actually believe Thanksgiving is possibly one of the least racist holidays. Although, you are entitled to your opinions. Have a good Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is unquestionably racist but that has little bearing on whether or not to celebrate. If we gave up on every holiday with a racist past we'd have few or none to celebrate.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We should totally go out celebrating Christmas with Black Friday shopping instead! 🤣