Universities, school districts nationwide call for ‘decolonizing’ Thanksgiving: ‘Day of mourning’
As families across the United States prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, a growing number of educators and institutions are re-evaluating the holiday’s historical context, particularly its colonial roots. This shift is part of a broader movement to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into educational practices surrounding Thanksgiving. For instance, the University of California, Davis recently hosted a Zoom event titled “Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom,” which aimed to reframe traditional classroom practices by centering Indigenous perspectives. The event emphasized the importance of discussing Thanksgiving in a way that acknowledges its complex history and the impact of colonialism on Native American communities.
Similarly, Washington University in St. Louis promoted an event focused on honoring various cultural interpretations of Thanksgiving, highlighting the need for inclusive practices that foster systemic change. Meanwhile, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), students are invited to participate in the “4th annual Thanksgiving Myth-busting” event, which aims to challenge narratives that justify land dispossession through colonialism. This event will also include a trip to the National Day of Mourning rally in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where many Indigenous people gather to remember the historical injustices faced by their communities. Institutions like the University of Massachusetts and the Berkeley Unified School District have similarly referred to Thanksgiving as a “Day of Mourning,” encouraging reflection on the painful legacy of the holiday and its implications for Indigenous peoples.
Critics of this movement argue that Thanksgiving should be a time for unity and celebration rather than division. Paul Runko, senior director at Defending Education, stated that the holiday is meant to bring people together, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and community. He pointed out that the tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to President George Washington, who called for a day of thanks for the nation’s blessings. As conversations around Thanksgiving evolve, the challenge remains to balance recognition of historical injustices with the holiday’s spirit of togetherness and gratitude. This ongoing dialogue reflects a broader societal effort to confront the complexities of American history while fostering a more inclusive and equitable future.
As families across the U.S. gather on Thanksgiving to celebrate one of the nation’s most cherished national holidays, some educators and schools are lamenting the day, pushing back on its “colonial” roots, and incorporating diversity, equality and inclusion
DEI
into the holiday.
At the University of California, Davis, the California History-Social Science Project, which describes itself as “Resources & professional learning for K-12 history-social science,”Â
hosted
a Zoom event called “Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom.”
“We will discuss reframing classroom practices and rituals about Thanksgiving,” the event description explained. “Centering perspectives from Turtle Island (a name for North America used by some indigenous people) will help us decolonize Thanksgiving and spark new conversations about how to authentically make meaning of this holiday with our students.”
Earlier this month, Washington University in St. Louis, an institution that hasÂ
long been criticized
over its DEI policies, put out a press release promoting an event that “highlights and honors the way different cultures recognize and understand Thanksgiving, both as part of their history and as a tradition brought into the present day.”
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The event was described as a way to “actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.”
On Tuesday, Massachusetts Institute of Technology students are invited to the “4th annual Thanksgiving Myth-busting” event that is aimed at “continuing our exploration of the narratives justifying land grabs via colonialism” and includes a viewing of the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Part of that effort, according to theÂ
invitation
, includes students traveling in rental cars to the National Indigenous Day of Mourning (NDOM) rally in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the location of the Mayflower’s landing.
In a statement, an MIT spokesperson told Fox News Digital the school is closed on Thursday and Friday in honor of Thanksgiving.Â
“In the same way that individuals are free at MIT to express their views, they are free to observe holidays as they wish, pray as they choose, share their ideas about holidays, and, yes, watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer if that’s what they freely choose to do,” the spokesperson said, adding that “the views expressed by an individual are their own and do not reflect those of MIT or the wider community on campus.”
At the University of Massachusetts, the school referred to Thursday as a “Day of Mourning” in anÂ
announcement
on its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility website.Â
“The National Day of Mourning is an annual demonstration, held on the fourth Thursday in November, that aims to educate the public about Native Americans in the United States, notably the Wampanoag and other tribes of the Eastern United States; dispel myths surrounding the Thanksgiving story in the United States; and raise awareness toward historical and ongoing struggles facing Native American tribes,” the announcement says.
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Earlier this month, the University of Maryland School of Public PolicyÂ
hosted a talk
called “Harvesting the Truth: Colonial Disruptions of Indigenous Food Systems & the Myths of Thanksgiving.”
Students attending Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico were sent a November Indigenous EducationÂ
update
explaining that “many native people do not celebrate” Thanksgiving because it is a “reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the appropriation of Native lands, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.”
The school district also referred to
Thanksgiving
as a time of “mourning” for some.
The Berkeley Unified School District in CaliforniaÂ
also used the term
“mourning” in its “Rethinking Thanksgiving Teaching Guide” while asking the community to consider the “painful legacy” and “nuanced perspectives” of the day.Â
Paul Runko, senior director of Strategic Initiatives at Defending Education, told Fox News Digital, “Thanksgiving is meant to bring people together, not to divide students or cast blame over heritage. It is an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to celebrate America, build unity in their communities, and share a meal with family and friends.”
“236 years ago, President George Washington urged Americans to set aside a day to give thanks for the blessings and abundance of our nation. Presidents throughout our history have continued that tradition, reminding us each Thanksgiving to pause and reflect with gratitude.”
