The Real Horrifying Truth About the Thanksgiving Celebration
Y’all, let me tell you, I’ve had a revelation, and it ain’t pretty. Thanksgiving.
The holiday we’ve all been taught to adore with turkey, stuffing, and that sweet potato casserole with marshmallows. A time for “giving thanks” and gathering around the table with family, right? Well, sugar, pull up a chair, because we need to have a real, honest-to-goodness talk about what’s lurking beneath those mashed potatoes and gravy.
A Holiday With a Bloody History
For years, I bought into the idea that Thanksgiving was about Pilgrims and Native Americans holding hands, sharing a meal, and singing “Kumbaya” or something. But that’s the sugar-coated lie we’ve all been spoon-fed since kindergarten. The truth? Thanksgiving’s roots are steeped in blood and tragedy.
Let’s rewind to the 1600s. The Pilgrims didn’t come here for unity.
They came for land, and when they set their sights on it, they didn’t care who they had to destroy to claim it. The “First Thanksgiving” wasn’t some harmonious feast; it followed the massacre of Indigenous people.
Thousands of Native men, women, and children were slaughtered, their lands stolen, and their ways of life ripped apart. What kind of holiday glorifies that?
Now I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t find anything to celebrate in that. No cranberry sauce, no buttery rolls, no pumpkin pie can sweeten up the bitter truth that Thanksgiving was built on the backs of innocent lives.
The Dark Secret Behind Thanksgiving You’ve Never Been Told
Even if we set the history aside (and let’s be real, we shouldn’t), what does Thanksgiving look like now?
It’s a frenzy of overpriced groceries, disposable plates, and chaotic shopping trips that leave us all frazzled and broke. And for what? So we can gorge ourselves on food while giving half-hearted thanks before hitting the Black Friday sales?
Year after year, I’ve spent hundreds—no, thousands—of dollars hosting Thanksgiving dinners for my family.
And don’t even get me started on the stress. Cooking for days, cleaning up the mess, and making sure everyone’s happy. All while inflation drives the cost of everything—yes, even paper plates—straight through the roof.
This year, with my kids all grown (or almost), I’ve been doing some soul-searching. My oldest, Desmond, is finally settling down with his little family. My middle son, Devonn, is finding his way, and my baby girl, Arianna, is starting her journey into adulthood.
With them spreading their wings, it hit me: Why am I clinging to a tradition that’s draining my wallet, my energy, and my spirit? Especially when it’s built on lies and tragedy?
Breaking Free From the Chains of Tradition
This year, Thanksgiving will be different. In fact, it’ll be my last. I’ve had enough of celebrating a holiday rooted in bloodshed and perpetuated by consumerism. We’ve been duped, y’all—played like fiddles by a system that wants us distracted and complicit.
Instead of hosting a massive meal, I’m turning Thanksgiving into a day of truth and reflection. I want to honor the lives that were lost—not by stuffing my face, but by learning, sharing, and supporting efforts to uplift Indigenous communities.
And let’s be real, it’s time to stop blindly following traditions that don’t align with our values. It’s okay to say, “Enough is enough.” It’s okay to create new traditions that reflect the people we want to be, not the lies we’ve been sold.
Thanksgiving Ain’t What We Think It Is, and Here’s the Real Story
- Learn the Real History: Educate yourself and your family about what really happened. Watch documentaries, read articles, and listen to Indigenous voices.
- Support Indigenous Communities: Donate to organizations that fight for Native rights and sovereignty, like the Native American Rights Fund or First Nations Development Institute.
- Create Your Own Traditions: Use the day to volunteer, spend time in nature, or simply rest and recharge. You don’t need turkey and pie to make memories.
- Spread the Truth: Share what you’ve learned with others. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.
Moving Forward With Purpose
This ain’t about guilt-tripping or finger-pointing.
It’s about waking up and realizing we have the power to choose better—for ourselves, for our families, and for the world. I may not have all the answers, but I know this: I refuse to celebrate a holiday built on lies and bloodshed.
So, y’all, let’s ditch the turkey, toss the lies, and start living with purpose.
Life’s too short to keep playing along with a game we never wanted to be part of in the first place.
What do you think? Are you ready to trade tradition for truth? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make this world a better place, one honest conversation at a time.
Keep Seeking the Truth and Thanks for Reading,
Your truth-seeking Southern gal, Stacy
