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| Stock Photo: Child wears paper headdress. |
Full disclosure - I am a white, middle class young adult who grew up in a white, affluent neighborhood. As a child, my favorite Disney Princess was Pocahontas. I owned and wore a Pocahontas dress. The only characteristic that separated me from my peers was my religion (born and bred UU). However, I never felt particularly persecuted or marginalized for it. And, I still ask myself, 'what does it mean to be culturally sensitive?'
In short, I never quite felt like I had the tools necessary to tackle the Thanksgiving story in a culturally inclusive way. So, I didn't think about it. Growing up UU, the Thanksgiving narrative I told myself instead was one of 'religious freedom.' After all, the pilgrims came to the America's to practice their chosen religion. Their survival, exemplified in the Thanksgiving story, was critical to the creation of this nation, which gives me the freedom to worship however I choose.
However, as I have gotten older, I've learned that narrative isn't quite true either. And, what of the food? Is it possible to eat ethically on a holiday that is all about food? Well, unfortunately, I don't have all the answers for you (what good UU does), but I can at least give you the resources to begin your own investigation.
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Revisiting the Story of Thanksgiving
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There are many narratives we tell ourselves and our children about the thanksgiving holiday - none of which are particularly true or socially responsible. Thankfully, a few people much smarter than I have taken their time to gather accurate information, and put together helpful guides, that we can use when honoring this holiday with our children. My only suggestion, don't let the sheer volume of information from this post overwhelm you. Choose one area to explore with your children this thanksgiving and run with it.
Talking about Native Americans
Off Beat Families put together an age appropriate guide on how to talk to children about Native Americans during Thanksgiving. In one section, the article's author (listed only as Rodrigues), cautions against painting Native Americans with a broad brush. Rodrigues notes, "keep the perspective balanced: some settlers had compassion and wanted to help Native people, and not all native people were like Squanto or Pocahontas, either. In fact, one important ideas is that just like your child has different ideas and likes than his friends, people at that point in history had different ideas from their friends."
The Indian Country Today Media Network has also compiled a short list of picture and chapter books written by Native Americans, about Native Americans. As Debbie Reese, the author of this article states, "These books give a far more nuanced, and accurate, account of Indigenous Peoples. They will set children and adults alike straight on what really happened around the time of the so-called First Thanksgiving, and what Native life is like today."
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| "The People Shall Continue" written by Simon Ortiz |
On the flip side, in her blog American Indians in Children's Literature Debbie Reese has re-posted a very comprehensive list of Thanksgiving books NOT to use.
Exploring Religious Freedom and Early Unitarian Universalism
On the Smithsonian's website, Kenneth C. Davis debunks the myth that the early Pilgrims and Puritans were all about religious freedom. In the article Davis even notes several examples of early religious laws in Independent America. Delaware, for example, "required an oath affirming belief in the Trinity."
You may even be surprised to learn that the first Universalist service in america didn't even occur until September 30, 1770. That preacher was John Murray (bio can be found at Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography). A children's story, and activity ideas, about John Murray can be found in Session 12 of the Tapestry of Faith curriculum Creating Home. One of the best parts about this resource is that several of the activities are centered on welcoming - another Thanksgiving theme.
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| John Murray |
Ethical Eating
For a general overview on how to eat ethically on Thanksgiving, Take Part offers up trivia (yes, trivia). In the introduction to their slide show, they note "These fun facts about Thanksgiving might help you find small ways to celebrate a little more ethically... there are lots of easy choices that will have you feeling good before you even sit down at the table."
By way of specifics, Running on Real Food, offers up 50 vegan recipes for Thanksgiving, and this infographic, created Good Magazine, provides information and suggestions on how to make your meal more local, sustainable and eco-friendly.
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| Stock Photo: Cornucopia overflowing with fruits and vegetables. |
Other Thanksgiving Narratives
In the Off Beat Families article referenced above, Rodrigues offers another narrative about Thanksgiving. She says, "In our home, like so many other American homes, Thanksgiving is when we take time to enumerate the brightest moments of that year. Often, those illuminated moments are intertwined with difficult, dark times. They are inseparable: we are thankful for our home knowing that others suffer without one. We are thankful for our youngest son in light of the days he spent recovering from heart surgery. We are thankful for our marriage in light of the fact that we are two people toiling through a relationship's struggles. We celebrate thanksgiving in acknowledgement of its symbols of hope, thankfulness, and togetherness in light of the difficult history from which it springs." This is how I like to look at Thanksgiving now. And, if this is the narrative you want to instill on your children, check out this post on gratitude from two weeks ago for activity suggestions on how to do just that.
Original Sources:
All original sources cited above.
With gratitude,
- Ms. Meredith
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