Table Talk: Decolonizing “Thanksgiving Day”

This year has undoubtedly been a time of great loss and tremendous economic strife for millions of families across our Commonwealth and far beyond. From all of us at PW Perspective, our hearts go out to those who continue to endure unbearable hardship in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While we take this time to reflect, we as an anti-racist publication feel it is appropriate to highlight the disproportionate toll this pandemic has taken on Native American & Alaska Native tribal populations who continue to face systemic injustice throughout our nation and to provide our readers with resources to further educate themselves, and their family members, before they dig into tonight’s virtual or in-person dinner:

1) Read-up on how the pandemic has disproportionately affected members of the BIPOC community: https://n.pr/37d4kok

2) Educate yourselves on the land you currently reside on: https://native-land.ca/

3) Learn more about local PWC & Virginia history pertaining to colonization: https://bit.ly/3mo1MKx

4) Demythologize today’s holiday by reading about the true history of “Thanksgiving”: https://bit.ly/3l7VIEb

5) Read works by Native authors compiled by the First Nations Development Institute: https://bit.ly/2JjkFPL

6) View “A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving for Educators and Families” compiled by the Center for Racial Justice in Education for further resources: https://bit.ly/2J3IH1P

Releated

“Severe Financial Disadvantage”: Local Students and Higher Education Leaders Address Proposed Changes to Federal Financial Aid

By: Zayd Hamid, Contributing Writer for the PW Perspective Last week, the House Education & Workforce Committee submitted its initial reconciliation bill portion proposal, which includes a restructuring of the student loan system and widespread cuts to programs administered by the Department of Education (ED). The bill follows a directive given by the House Budget […]