The genocide of indigenous people and the theft of their land is commemorated every year on Thanksgiving. Though sold to us as a peaceful holiday meal, this holiday’s origins date back to when white Americans violently killed unarmed Native Americans during the Pequot War. Pilgrims never sat down with Native Americans for a feast – The peaceful story of Thanksgiving is one that was fabricated by white America in order to make the truth more palatable. White pilgrims commited an act of genocide and celebrated it by creating a holiday of thanksgiving.
If we care about justice, then black people should not celebrate Thanksgiving.
Not only is Thanksgiving a false tradition not found in the Bible, but it actively perpetuates genocide. For example, the genocide of Native Americans began with the Pequot War and many massacres ensued as white Americans continued to break 368 treaties with indigenous people.
The first recorded Thanksgiving story many American children learn is about how English explorers stole Patuxet Indians and brought them back to England as slaves. The English purposely gave smallpox to the Indians in order to kill their entire population, but some escaped. These survivors then left behind smallpox which virtually wiped out those who hadn’t contracted it earlier.
A different group of explorers (The Puritans ) returned to Massachusetts Bay. They found only one living Patuxet Indian–Squanto, who had escaped slavery in England and knew their language. In the following year, Squanto taught the Pilgrims various survival skills like how to grow corn and fish. He then negotiated a peace treaty between them and the Wampanoag Nation. The Pilgrims showed their appreciation for Squanto’s help by holding a great feast at the end of their first year. And everyone lived happily ever after.
This story is not true! The Pilgrims never had a peaceful feast with the Wampanoag Nation. Instead, they butchered them in future wars. This genocide was part of an overall scheme to take their land and resources for white settlers.
The Pequot War was fought between the Puritans of Connecticut and a tribe of Native Americans known as the Pequot. The conflict began in 1636 when white settlers began moving into Pequot territory in search of farmland. The Pequots quickly realized that their land was being stolen, and they soon began to resist. In 1637, the war escalated into full-blown violence, and the Puritans declared war on the Pequot. The Puritans systematically slaughtered the Pequot, burning their villages and killing anyone who resisted.
One of the largest battles took place in 1637 near present-day Groton, Connecticut, over 700 men, women, and children, mostly Pequot, were killed by the Puritans. The attack took place when the majority of the tribe was together for their annual green dance festival (Feast of Tabernacles) The Puritans approached the Indian’s homes in the early morning hours and demanded that they come outside. Those who came outside were shot or bludged to death with clubs. The petrified women and children who were hiding inside were burned alive.
This battle is known as “The Mystic Massacre” and was a turning point for the Pequot War. The Pequots were virtually wiped out. In its aftermath, the survivors of the war were forced to surrender their lands and taken captive into slavery by the Puritans. The Puritans went on to eradicate nearly all indigenous tribes within the region.
The Mystic Massacre is a brutal and horrific event that serves as a reminder of the long, dark history of atrocities and genocide of Indigenous people at the hands of White settlers throughout American history.
Colony Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts proclaimed a feast of “Thanksgiving” to celebrate the Puritans’ safe return back home after the genocide of the Pequot. This Slaughter was glorified as an act of divine favor by Winthrop, who deemed it “a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God for our great deliverance.” The men “had sufficient light from the word of God for our proceedings,” based on what he wrote in his journal.
These events have been romanticized and sanitized in American culture so that it is no longer seen as a genocide of Native Americans, but rather a peaceful exchange between settlers and Indigenous people.
Thanksgiving is a tradition that celebrates genocide and colonization of Native Americans. The Bible warns us to beware of vain and false traditions, and this is certainly one of them.
Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
The genocide of Native Americans and subsequent theft of land does not align with a spirit of justice and thankfulness. Celebrating this holiday ignores centuries-old suffering and continues to encourage injustice against indigenous populations today. Let us instead use Thanksgiving to remember the genocide of Native Americans and commit ourselves to truth and justice. If you are a true follower of Christ, celebrating Thanksgiving is not only wrong but evil. It’s time to put an end to celebrating a genocide-commemorating holiday.
No matter how much stuffing, cranberry sauce, or gravy you pour on it, the fact remains that an atrocity was committed for Americans to have a “thankskilling” meal. Why not use this “holiday” is an opportunity to learn about genocide, Native American history, and how these events correlate to the Bible.
This Thanksgiving, let us use this day to remember the victims and survivors of genocide, rather than sugarcoat history with a false narrative of peace between Pilgrims and Native Americans.
The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV that we must “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” being separate means we should not be a part of things that go against the teachings of God. It is inappropriate to celebrate genocide or give thanks for the genocide of Native Americans.
Many people mark arguments as to why this holiday should be kept. Some people might say that’s not the reason why they celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a day that they choose to come together with their family and give thanks for all the blessings that they have. This is might be a valid point, however, you are choosing to come together with your family on the very same day that was set aside to give thanks for genocide, and that is wrong.
Job 14:4 “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.”
Genocide is genocide no matter how it is packaged.
Other people might say why not just celebrate Thanksgiving on a different day? The problem with this is that genocide and injustice are not something to be celebrated or commemorated under any circumstances, no matter the day.
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
meaning genocide is genocide no matter how it is presented, genocide cannot be called good or acceptable.
Instead of feasting this Thursday let’s commence a day of fasting, prayer, reflection, and repentance.
