A Slice of Social Justice this Thanksgiving
There’s much to love about Thanksgiving - the food, time with family and friends, and cranberry sauce. But our favorite part of Thanksgiving is the opportunity for gratitude.
Some use this time of year to reflect on their privilege, good fortune, and the people who bring meaning to their lives. Many of you may enjoy the practice of going around the table and saying what you are thankful for. At Mind Chicago, we also like to extend our gratitude and humility beyond the table by acknowledging the real history of Thanksgiving.
There are many romanticized and incorrect details to the Thanksgiving “story.” The Wampanoag Nation (pronounced “waam·puh·no·ag”) saved the Pilgrims (pronounced “colonialist”) from starvation and death. The Pilgrims then committed indigenous genocide and stole indigenous land (modern-day Southeastern Massachusetts to parts of Rhode Island). The true story of the Pilgrim-Native relationship is one of trauma, not friendship or turkey legs. As an antiracist and anti-oppressive organization, we’re dedicated to using our foundation in evidence-based practices to counter the effects of colonialism. In this case, we can lean into mindfulness, acceptance strategies, and change to work to counter the settler-colonialism mindset and whitewashed history.
So, how might we be able to start to reconcile a celebration of gratitude and an acknowledgment of tragedy using therapeutic models? Dialectical Behavior Therapy, for instance, is rooted in dialectics, or two or more seemingly opposing ideas that can exist at the same time. With this in mind, how can we use this principle to help us rethink the complexities of this holiday?
Radical Acceptance
Radical Acceptance is an active way of thinking and believing, and encourages us to accept and recognize the complete reality, no matter how painful. The trauma of the past continues to influence the oppression of today. Challenge yourself to live in the discomfort of the present rather than deny the painful truths or view them as “in the past” and therefore unchangeable. Two or more seemingly opposing ideas: the past is unchangeable and the oppression lives on today.
Willingness
The oppression of today is changeable. It can be changed by way of education, truthful and honest recognition, and humility in being wrong. Rejecting reality only prolongs the pain and suffering of those who are oppressed and feeds into the anxiety and avoidance of the oppressor. The oppressors and institutions that participate in the oppression can and must do better.
Observing Thoughts
What beliefs are you hanging onto because reality is difficult? Can you notice, breathe into, and let go of the unhelpful or untrue beliefs that provide momentary comfort, yet contribute to long-term suffering? We can still celebrate this holiday (and many more) while holding a mirror up to ourselves. We don’t have to always like what we see, but we have to commit to seeing it first, and then genuinely working to change it.
This Thanksgiving season (and all year), please consider financially supporting Indigenous organizations, businesses, and advocates. The Native Governance Center is a great resource for understanding how to do this, as well as how to engage and show up for important events.
Authored by Mind Chicago therapist, Niki Aquino, LCSW
