Carmen Lomas Garza Scene

This year we celebrated "thanks-taking" with an open mind and consciousness. We came together as a family, celebrated being together and thanked God for all of our blessings. However, while thinking of these blessings, we had a little discussion about  the truth of "thanksgiving." My brother and I talked about the indigenous folks that were taken advantaged and killed for this national "holiday." We explained to my mother and little brother, that although this "holiday" allows us to come together, it has been inaccurately depicted throughout history by the White European settlers. History books tell us that this "holiday" was implemented to remember the "peaceful" relationship between the settlers and the indigenous peoples. But in reality, this "holiday" marked the beginning of oppression, genocide, and land theft. After slaughtering the indigenous folks and wiping them off the land, the settlers proclaimed that the massacre was a thanksgiving to their God. For our family,"thanks-taking" was a day where we gathered together--mostly because everybody had the day off from school and work--we reflected on the truth of history as well as the value and importance of family. I personally know a lot of indigenous folks that refer to Thanksgiving as "thanks-taking" and "national day of mourning."

Above, I drew my mother, sister, and brother along with thought bubbles that reflect the topic of discussion over dinner.