Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving
I really had a lot going through my head during our “exploration” in Ms. Vera’s class today. I was feeling tired, rundown, and on the verge of getting sick so perhaps I wasn’t as responsive as I would like to have been. I think more than that, I was and am feeling a little confused and lost. I am part Native American, but that is a part that I have never really claimed. Looking at the the story of the first Thanksgiving made me feel sad, not just because it is a lie, but also because I feel like an outsider in a culture that I should know more about. The story of the first Thanksgiving is a story that I was taught. I didn’t learn some of the truths until later in life, and in this way I can see the dominant white culture in play. What haven’t I been taught about my own history, my own people whose blood made me who I am today? The truth is, many Americans have ties to Native Americans and the story we tell is always so quaint and pretty. We leave out the part where our ancestors almost destroyed an entire culture. Even today, Native Americans struggle to let their voices be heard in history and literature books. Knowing what I know, I couldn’t possibly read a little cutesy book about the brave Pilgrims coming to America , where everyone sits down and has a feast, and they all live happily ever after. The truth is, there is a group of people who didn’t get to live happily ever after. And doesn’t that fact shake the very ideal of the wonderful “melting pot” that we all want to have in this country? What happens when we acknowledge that things haven’t always been great in this country? What happens when we say that there have been groups of people who have been and continue to be brutalized and terrorized in this country?
Uncategorized | Comments (3)3 Responses to “Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving”
Leave a Reply
I think that once we acknowledge that history is one sided then we can build up strong leaders that will drive change and demand rights for everyone. Change will happen.
I agree with you and Kay. My question is, how fast can change come? Each classroom is different, yet the truth should always be taugth. I wonder how far can we push without parents raising a fuss? Is this hoilday a reason to raising a fuss? Everyone’s judgement is different.
I believe the truth should be taught and that we should walk lightly with our wording to the students. When this subject is address, to think long and how the history of thanks for giving is presented. The teacher will have to decide will this truth be spoken in a small pharse or will this truth exstend to a big class project.
Yes, our “American” history is sad in many cases, and has and continues to supress many cultures. the up side being that we live in a time where we can go back to a certain extent and embrace the forgotten aspects of our cultures and incorporate them into our daily lives. while it is certainly not the same thing as having the cultural foundations to begin with, I like the idea of being able to create our own culture.