What to do about Thanksgiving?

I’m not a big fan of commercial holidays – think Valentine’s Day or Mother’s and Father’s Day where you’re made to feel obligated to “honor” a loved one. In fact, I always like to honor people close to me without an “enforced” holiday nipping at my heels – prodding me into doing it.

But, if you’re reading this today, it’s Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28th, a long-time entrenched occasion with a despicable history that I’m afraid is coming around to haunt us again. Yes, Thanksgiving, at its heart, is a (legislated) celebration of gratitude and inclusion – rooted in the story of settlers, we could call them immigrants, finding refuge in a new land and receiving help from Indigenous peoples.

Of course, as we know (at least for right now, before all books on the topic are burned to keep Americans ignorant), the historical reality behind this story includes the bloody and violent colonizing of Native peoples.

And it’s said, what goes around, comes around

Back then, during the first Thanksgiving, “we” were the immigrants – strangers in a new land, vulnerable and dependent on the kindness of others for survival. (It’s recorded that the Wampanoag Nation helped the Pilgrims survive their first harsh years in the New World and were the ones who shared the Thanksgiving dinner in 1621.)

Today, the tables have turned, and it’s now “us” who have decided who the “immigrants” are, often treating them with the same fear, exclusion, and hostility we once feared for ourselves. Since that first Thanksgiving, more than 400 years ago, we’re seeing a replay of this nastiness, prolonged and magnified by the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration – travel bans, brutal family separations, and even the targeting of naturalized citizens.

White (non-Jewish, non-queer) people especially

This dynamic raises important questions about who gets to be “included” and “grateful” in a country that celebrates a holiday symbolizing unity and shared abundance. But here we are, once again, enacting policies that marginalize and harm those seeking a welcoming and safe place to belong. 

Whatever I say as a white (non-Jewish, non-queer) person will never be enough, because in this racist and bigoted climate, my white (non-Jewish, non-queer) skin will always privilege me. So in the spirit of thanks giving (not the holiday), I would say, as a white (non-Jewish, non-queer) person, it’s not just about giving thanks for what we have – it’s about standing up for others who deserve the same chance to belong. 

So now and always, I invite us to honor the true spirit of today’s observance – going beyond gratitude, and extending kindness, building community, and standing up for those seeking a place to belong. Gratitude is more than words; it’s action. And especially as (non-Jewish, non-queer) white people, we need to make an extra effort.

I invite you to drop down to the comments section and share your thoughts.

With Love and in unity,

Becca

P.S. ‘What can I do?’ you might ask. I wish I had more ideas than the list below, which, in some ways, feels impotent. But I always, always advocate finding ways to be of service in a community setting that’s a few pay grades below you – an experience that may leave you feeling a little “fish out of water” yet also bringing a deep sense of fulfillment. In short, we need to find ways to be of service (and let me know if you have particular ideas!).

• Raise Our Voices: Advocate for fairer policies through petitions, letters, and protests. Silence enables injustice.

• Support Organizations: Help nonprofits offering legal aid and resources by donating time or money.

• Foster Community: Stand with immigrants through kindness and solidarity in their toughest times.

• Stay Informed: Learn the facts, challenge misinformation, and share the truth to shift perceptions.