The Black Thanksgiving

Most people just don’t know the true history behind why we have this holiday and what it means to Black communities. Experts say that the first documented celebration of a harvest festival dates back to the early 1500s, when European explorers and settlers first arrived on American soil.

The first Thanksgiving took place in 1789 as a result of this new dynamic between Europeans and Native Americans. Many historians believe that this was an attempt by President George Washington to mend relationships with Native Americans after their violent clashes in the past few years.

What does Thanksgiving mean for Black Americans?

The first thing to understand is the origin of the holiday itself. Thanksgiving is a celebration of harvest, gratitude, and the bonds of friendship. The harvest part is obviously associated with the food that people used to eat during the colder months when it was harder to grow crops. Gratitude is well, a celebration of gratitude for the harvest and friendship is just what it says.

This is something that Black Americans can definitely connect with since most African cultures have harvest festivals similar to Thanksgiving. The difference is that these harvest festivals are usually celebrated in July, which is the beginning of the rainy season in the African tropics.

The real reason why Black people don’t celebrate thanksgiving

The real reason why Black people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving is because they were never invited to the party. For the first 100 years, Thanksgiving was an event that was reserved for white people only. In fact, there were laws that prohibited Native Americans from even owning land (much less harvesting crops). Black people were also prohibited from owning land during this time period.

Thanksgiving was a time reserved for celebrating the first harvest with family and friends. For Native Americans and White people, but not Black people. This wouldn’t change until the 1920’s when a Black woman named Sarah Maud Young created the National Negro Thanksgiving Festival. Her purpose for this festival was to create a celebration for Black communities to come together and have a positive event to celebrate.

How Black communities have celebrated over the years

Black people have always been an integral part of American culture. From the very beginning, Black people have found a way to incorporate their culture into mainstream society. This is also true of Black people as they celebrate Thanksgiving. Black people have long celebrated Thanksgiving as an opportunity to share their culture with their friends and family. This can mean a few different things.

First, you’ll see a lot of Black families and friends gather around a big Thanksgiving-style meal. This is usually a mix of traditional Thanksgiving food and Black culture. You’ll see the classic Thanksgiving dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing paired with collard greens, yams, mac and cheese, and other traditional Black dishes.

Another way Black people incorporate their culture into the Thanksgiving holiday is by using Thanksgiving as an opportunity to gather and educate the people in your life about the Black experience. This could be as simple as telling your white friends and family a little bit about the history of Black people in America and why we have a separate Thanksgiving holiday.

Why you should still celebrate if you are black and proud

The main reason why Black people have not traditionally celebrated Thanksgiving is because they have been excluded from the event since its inception. We were never invited to the party and didn’t have the opportunity to create or celebrate our own. That is why Sarah Maud Young created the National Negro Thanksgiving Festival in the 1920s. It was a way to celebrate heritage and community while also standing up to the oppressive ideologies of the time.

The truth is that every community has their own set of traditions, holidays, and celebrations. These things exist because they are necessary and important to the group that they serve. You don’t need to feel the need to cancel your Black Thanksgiving plans in order to celebrate Thanksgiving. Instead, you can use Thanksgiving as a way to celebrate your culture and history with friends and family.

Final Words

Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time to come together and celebrate the harvest. It has also been a time to come together and celebrate with family and friends. For many years, Black people have had to celebrate their harvest and traditions in secret. They have had to keep their celebrations hidden from the eyes of white people who have historically oppressed and abused Black people.

This year, we encourage you to celebrate with your friends and family. We encourage you to share your history, your culture, and your traditions. Let this be an opportunity to come together and celebrate who you are as a person and as a community.

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