Winona* was busy cooking in preparation for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was a special day for her. It gave her a reason to let people know that, although she was identified as an African American, she had “Indian blood” in her too. Her grandmother was an “Indian.”
Thanksgiving also gave her an opportunity to let people know that some “Indians” (Indigenous people) did not celebrate Thanksgiving. They referred to Thanksgiving as the “National Day of Mourning” because of how badly “Indians” had been treated and continued to be treated in the U.S.
Winona would point out to anyone who listened that “Indians” had not actually been invited to the harvest feast with the Plymouth colonists. They just happened to be there by chance. (See the November 4, 2021 Washington Post article by Dana Hedgpeth titled, “This tribe helped the Pilgrims survive for their first Thanksgiving. They still regret it 400 years later.”)
Winona had read that President George Washington proclaimed “A Day of Public Thanksgiving” for November 26, 1789, and that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 that Thanksgiving would be held annually on the last Thursday in November. This was information that Winona could share without feeling so annoyed.
Winona was pleased that November had been proclaimed Native American Heritage Month in the U.S. She was also pleased that the UN General Assembly in 1986 made December 2 the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, a day to encourage “awareness of the atrocities of modern slavery.” (Wikipedia) Winona felt that many “Indians” had been enslaved in the U.S. Thanksgiving Day falls on Nov. 25 this year, the same day as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (“Day”). The United Nations passed a resolution in 1999 to make November 25 the annual date for this Day.
In spite of Winona’s anger at what had been done to Native Americans and the myth of the First Thanksgiving, she looked forward to having her family come for their Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving still meant a day to gather together and share good food and good company.
Dates to note:
Sundown on November 28 is the beginning of Hanukkah (“Festival of Lights”), a Jewish eight-night festival in celebration of the Maccabean Jews regaining control of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Temple. (Wikipedia)
November 29 is Cyber Monday, a bargain day after Thanksgiving.
November 30 is Giving Tuesday, a day after Thanksgiving to encourage people to “donate to charitable causes.” (Wikipedia)
December 1 is World AIDS Day, established in 1988 to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic and mourn those who have died from the HIV infection.
December 3 is the International Day of Persons With Disabilities, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1992 to raise awareness of people with disabilities and promote their rights and wellbeing.
*Winona is an Anglicized form of the Dakota feminine name meaning “first born.”