Member-only story
Should we celebrate Thanksgiving?
Can we do so in a way that also honors Native Americans?
Every November, most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving.
When I was a little girl, I was taught the story of the first Thanksgiving. Like many national myths, this story is based on a kernel of truth, but also propagates falsehoods.
I learned that the Pilgrims came to America to escape persecution, which is true. I even learned that they turned around and persecuted others, such as Anne Hutchinson and the Quakers. But I didn’t learn the full story.
I learned that the Pilgrims were not equipped for survival in the vast American wilderness. New England winters are harsher than the ones in old England, from whence they came. The ill-prepared settlers might have starved to death if not for the help of people like Squanto, or so I was taught.
To show gratitude for the Native Americans’ help, the new arrivals shared a special feast with them. Unfortunately, this touching story of multi-cultural harmony is not fully factual.
