This time of year, we’re expected to buy into a particular story about the founding of this country—a story that paints a rosy picture of two peoples sharing a meal, a story that covers up colonial violence with cranberry sauce. As antiracists, we know that we can’t participate in that kind of whitewashing. But it’s hard to know what we should do instead.
If you’re struggling with how to act from your antiracist values during Thanksgiving (or if we’re being honest, “Thankstaking”), we’ve got you. Here’s what we recommend:
Observe the National Day of Mourning on Thursday
Give money to support Indigenous organizing with Indigenous leadership
Take time to unlearn settler colonial myths about America
Skill up to talk to the people you love (or are at least related to) about your understanding of settler colonialism, both on this land and abroad
Take action to support Indigenous organizing with Indigenous leadership
We’ve got resources for all five right below.
As you move to break cycles of colonial violence in yourself and in your communities this week, we hope you’ll feel all of SURJ NYC at your back. We’re with you.
In solidarity,
SURJ NYC
NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING
Tune in at noon at http://uaine.org/ to commemorate this day with those at Plymouth Rock for a “day of remembrance and spiritual connection, as well as a protest against the racism and oppression that Indigenous people continue to experience worldwide.”
GIVE MONEY
Setting up a recurring gift—and sharing this ask with your friends and family—is part of the crucial work of moving resources back to Indigenous communities. Gifts to the Manna-hatta Fund support the American Indian Community House, which serves the health, social service, and cultural needs of Native Americans residing in New York City. Whether you’re a new donor this year, or have already made a long-standing monthly commitment, please fill out this reporting form to help us understand our members’ giving and inform SURJ NYC’s ongoing fundraising strategies.
SURJ NYC was part of the campaign to #FreePaulWhite, a Black bisexual migrant who survived over three years of abuse in ICE detention. Now Paul has been deported to his country of origin, one of the most dangerous places in the world for the LGBTQIA+ community. Many of you have given generously before, and we hope you can do so again, as Paul is in need of more funds to stay safe on reentry: bit.ly/gofundmePW
UNLEARN
Learn which Nations have been stewards of the land you live/work/organize on. A good place to start is https://native-land.ca/, but don’t stop there.
Reflect on your own experience using this worksheet from our friends at Catalyst Project
Understand the Treaties. Study the Doctrine of Discovery resources (podcasts, articles, videos, etc.) from Indigenous Values Initiative. Learn about the Two Row Wampum, the first agreement between Europeans and American Indian Nations on Turtle Island/North America. Learn about other treaties made on the land you occupy via https://digitreaties.org/, OSU’s digital library, or even just Wikipedia.
SKILL UP
If you want to learn more or are preparing for challenging conversations at family gatherings, whether about current events or about the ongoing role of colonialism in America, these resources can help:
Talking To Your Family and Friends About Settler Colonialism
A Brief Guide for Things-Taken Discussions with Friends and Family
Jewish Voice for Peace’s Webinar How to Not Ruin the Holidays: An Anti-Zionist Guide to Initiating Difficult Conversations About Israel, Tuesday November 21st at 7pm and 9pm Eastern.
TAKE ACTION
SURJ NYC’s Indigenous Solidarity team—now an official working group of the chapter!—works year-round to move resources to Indigenous communities, uplift Indigenous leadership, and support decolonial learning and action. Sign up for the Indigenous Solidarity email list HERE to get updates about IS actions and events.