Episode 09: Thanksgiving or Thankstaking?
From “Thanksgiving” to Black Friday: Deconstructing America’s History + Future
Episode 09 of Art of Citizenry Podcast features the voices of 4 Indigenous and Black activists and educators: Charlie Amáyá Scott, Kai Ramey, Katie Pruett and Emma Robbins. Together, they deconstruct America's dark history of genocide, theft and trauma, while having an honest conversation around how they each navigate the problematic holiday of "Thanksgiving."
A little note about this episode ~
This special podcast episode features a panel conversation hosted on November 20th by Reclaim Collaborative in collaboration with ESJ and Art of Citizenry as part of Reclaim Black Friday, a campaign calling on brands to redistribute a percentage of their sales to Indigenous and Black land-based organizations instead of running sales during Black Friday weekend.
A Deeper Look into Indigenous + Black Erasure
When having conversations about Thanksgiving, it is important to acknowledge the first people to encounter the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag Tribe. It is unfortunate that while most of us know so much about the Pilgrims’ journey because of the way we have been taught history, most of us don’t know the name of the community that was first colonized in what is now known as the United States of America. This is one simple example of how Indigenous people, or Native Americans, have experienced centuries of dehumanization, genocide, and erasure.
Land back is rooted in this idea of literally getting to stewardship and restoring that ancestral relationship with the land, and letting Indigenous people lead the conversation.
- Charlie Amáyá Scott
Addressing histories of exploitation takes deconstructing the systems we operate in. One simple step we can each take is acknowledge the people on whose land we reside.
“My family has always taken it as a day of resistance and resilience. It's been much more from an aspect of this is what we do traditionally, as Diné people, which is coming together and celebrating each other.”
- Emma Robbins on Thanksgiving
This year marks 400 years since the Mayflower arrived on Plymouth Rock. We must critically analyze the story we have been told and by who. It is time we deconstruct, rethink, and rebuild a more just future. Reclaim Black Friday is a campaign focused on redistributing to Indigenous and Black land-based organizations because it is important to acknowledge the original stewards of this land and return it to those who have historically cultivated regenerative and healing relationships with the Earth.
“Reparations as a whole isn’t just a racial justice issue, it’s also a climate justice issue.”
- Kai Ramey
It is important to hold space for reclaiming and healing, recognizing the trauma and genocide that is widely celebrated through what has been painted as an endearing holiday of gratitude.
Black Americans, descendants of American Chattel Slavery, were taken captive and brought here to America for textile and agricultural work—building the wealth of this country. The dehumanization, exploitation, and abuse that Black people have had to endure for centuries continues today as Black Americans still face injustices and inequities in most spaces.
“As a Black person, or as an Indigenous person, we're always in the position where we're having to do the work to undo the things that we never had any part in to begin with.“
- Katie Pruett
Despite directly contributing to the wealth of this country, when enslaved Black Americans were freed, they did not receive reparations. Today, Black Americans collectively experience one of the highest poverty rates of any group in the United States. Our acknowledgement of this horrific truth and examination of how we can provide support without causing further damage, is a necessary step if we are to be part of creating real systemic change.
How can non-Black + non-Indigenous people help dismantle the systems we operate within without falling into the trap of white saviorism?
Redistributing wealth is a small way we can give back the stolen wealth and land we have all benefited from. It is by no means the only way nor is it a panacea. White individuals in America have directly and indirectly contributed to harmful cycles of exploitation by the nature of this country’s history. It is therefore, the responsibility of white and white passing individuals to help dismantle the systems that cause harm.
There is a lot of power that white folks do have in the world we live in today, but I think it’s more important to cede power in very silent ways and by that I mean not taking up space.
- Kai Ramey
So what is white saviorism?
It’s a little bit of guilt and a little bit of “Hey, look at what I’m doing. I’m doing good, but I want you to know I’m doing good.” But let me tell you something -- when you’re really about that life and you really are here for change, you don’t get to donate $10 here and there. You have to give up some power and some wealth and you get to be uncomfortable and you get to feel how we’ve been feeling for centuries.”
- Katie Pruett
Reclaim Black Friday
Thanksgiving is steeped in America’s history of genocide and theft from Indigenous people. The weekend of frenzied consumerism that follows further contributes to issues of racism and classism in this country. Reclaim Black Friday is dedicated to amplifying the work and voices of Indigenous and Black leaders, and a call to action for redistributing wealth to those who have suffered the most because of historic and continual exploitation in America.
Join Reclaim Collaborative November 27th - 30th for Reclaim Black Friday, a campaign calling on businesses to not offer discounts, and instead redistribute a percentage of total sales to Black and Indigenous led land-based organizations. This campaign aims to address the problematic history of Thanksgiving. Learn more and take the Redistribution Pledge!
Reclaim Collaborative
This episode of Art of Citizenry Podcast is brought to you in collaboration with Reclaim Collaborative, a values-aligned affiliate network. We are on a mission to build and foster an inclusive community of brands, content creators, and industry experts dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression across all aspects of the fashion and lifestyle ecosystem. We believe an intersectional and collaborative approach, one rooted in trust and respect, is necessary to create widespread systems change. Learn more!
Additional Resources + Links
Interested in reading some of the resources I reference during the episode? Check out the links below curated with support from Charlie Amáyá Scott + Katie Pruett:
Art of Citizenry Podcast Episode 6: Voluntourism, Mission Trips + Dismantling the Savior Complex
Decolonizing Thanksgiving: A Toolkit for Combatting Racism in Schools
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe welcomed Pilgrims, but loses land on eve of Thanksgiving
A Collection of Treaties published by the Oklahoma State University
[Book] An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the US by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
[Book] Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Thanksgiving-specific Resources:
The Thanksgiving Tale We Tell Is a Harmful Lie. As a Native American, I’ve Found a Better Way to Celebrate the Holiday by Sean Sherma via Time Magazine
Do American Indians celebrate Thanksgiving? by Dennis Zotigh via Smithsonian Magazine.
The Invention of Thanksgiving by Philip Deloria via The New Yorker
The Wampanoag Side of the First Thanksgiving Story by Michelle Tirado via Indian Country Today.
The True, Indigenous History of Thanksgiving by Alexis Bunten via Bioneers
As A Native American, Here’s What I Want My Fellow Americans To Know About Thanksgiving by Corinne Oestreich via Huffpost.
Thanksgiving | Native Americans | One Word by The Cut via Youtube
The Indigenous Peoples Thanksgiving Alcatraz Sunrise Ceremony Draws on the 1969 Occupation to Inform Native Resistance by Ray Levy-Uyeda via TeenVogue
National Day of Mourning Resources
Thanksgiving 'National Day Of Mourning' For Some by AJ+ via Youtube
For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning by Pamela Kirkland via CNN
Native Americans host ‘National Day of Mourning’ on Thanksgiving via Al Jazeera
Thanksgiving: The National Day of Mourning by Allen Salway via Paper Magazine
What is National Day of Mourning? How Anti-Thanksgiving Day Started and Everything To Know About It by Kelly Wynne via Newsweek
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Status Removal
Trump administration revokes reservation status for Mashpee Wampanoag tribe amid coronavirus crisis by Rory Taylor via Vox
U.S. Appeals Ruling In Mashpee Wampanoag Land Case by the AP via WBUR News
The ‘Thanksgiving Tribe’ Is Still Fighting for Food Sovereignty by Alexandra Talty via Civil Eats
Charlie Amáyá Scott
Kai Ramey
Katie Pruett
Emma Robbins
Connect with Our Guests
“There needs to be an intention to build with others. We can't have this future that we're dreaming of if it's just by ourselves.” - Charlie Amáyá Scott
Charlie Amáyá Scott is a Diné (Navajo) scholar born and raised within the central part of the Navajo Nation. Charlie reflects, analyzes, and critiques what it means to be Queer, Trans, and Diné in the 21st century on their personal blog, dineaesthetics.com, while inspiring joy and justice to thousands of their followers on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Their English pronouns are they/them and she/her.
Kai Ramey is a community organizer, poet, land steward, & dog dad in Yanawana / Somi'Sek formerly known as San Antonio, TX. They work with Roots of Change community garden and Trans Lifeline, a trans-led resource organization. He has a passion for BIPOC connection to the land as well as Black & Indigenous rest as resistance. Follow Kai on Instagram.
Katie Pruett is the founder and editor-in-chief of ESJ Magazine and has been working to make sure representation exists within the sustainable fashion space, and that real conversations that lead to accountability and action are happening in fashion. Over the past year, her work with the magazine has expanded to create a bigger platform for Black women and femmes, and women of color to take up space in ethical and sustainable fashion. Follow ESJ on Instagram.
Emma Robbins is a Diné artist, activist, and environmentalist with a passion for empowering Indigenous women. As Director of the Navajo Water Project, part of the DigDeep Right to Water Project, she is working to create infrastructure that brings clean running water to the one in three Navajo families without it. Through her artwork, she strives to raise awareness about the lack of clean water in Native American nations. Robbins is also a 2020 Aspen Institute Healthy Communities Fellow. Follow Emma on Instagram.
[Moderator] Julysa Sosa is a Native Xicana visual artist whose work focuses on evocative storytelling, drawing out the obscured imagery existing on the periphery of life experiences. Her work embodies a search for identity and often creates dreamy, moody visual translations of her reality, dreams, and ancestral memories hidden deep in the psyche. Julysa received a BA in photojournalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently based in Yanaguana also known as San Antonio, TX. Follow Julysa on Instagram
And of course, don’t forget to follow @reclaimcollaborative on Instagram too!
Thank You
This podcast is dedicated to creating a safe space to discuss and challenge topics surrounding how we each navigate our personal advantages and disadvantages. I want to extend a special thank you to our panelists, Amaya, Kai, Emma and Katie along with our moderator, Julysa for sharing their valuable insights. These conversations are not easy, and involve revisiting years of generational pain and trauma.
Finally, thank you for listening! Please subscribe, download, and leave a review for Art of Citizenry Podcast — I appreciate your love and support! Also, if you want to connect, please feel free to follow me and share your thoughts with me on Instagram @manpreetkalra + @artofcitizenry.