Ep. 42 - Thanksgiving: Colonization to Liberation

Thanksgiving is a colonized holiday based on genocide, white
supremacy, and cultural domination in multiple forms. Still, with
competing narratives and histories even in 2019, it’s the second
biggest holiday in America and the start of the so-called
“holiday season.” With that, BrownTown reflects on what they were
taught in school, considers how they have celebrated in their own
homes, and unpacks the holiday on a macro-level.


BrownTown discusses Thanksgiving in conjunction with Columbus’
Day, now recognized by some states/institutions and (more
importantly) many people as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. They quickly
make the broader argument that traditional settler colonization,
though very much alive and well, is even more
insidious--manifesting in culture, language, art, etc. With
Chicago at the center, BrownTown discusses the Laquan McDonald
action on the Magnificent Mile in conjunction with the Macy’s Day
Thanksgiving Day Parade as an interrelated anecdote to break down
the intersection of capitalism, white supremacy, and the
organized resistance to abolish it. Zooming back in to the
holiday itself, they self-analyze how to engage (or not) in
ceremonial practices with loved ones while acknowledging and
supporting the lasting contributions of indigenous peoples. The
duo covers various surrounding topics including Standing Rock,
Chicago Teachers’ Union and SEIU strike, social media engagement
around said holidays, and strategies (and lack there of) on
having difficult conversations (shoutout to the LARA (Listen,
Affirm, Respond, and Ask Questions method).


As these centuries old ago events still plague our present, the
fellas discuss how to confront, engage, and support organized
resistance for future liberation. This may be as nuanced as
talking to your racist uncle at the Thanksgiving dinner table to
standing with native climate activists in your community. By any
measure, our struggles are interconnected, intersectional.
Originally recorded October 2019.


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Support Indigenous Women Rising, Chi-Nations Youth Council,
Lakota Law Project, and/or one of the MANY Native American
organizations involved in the struggles for sovereignty, climate
justice, and various others.


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CREDITS: Intro song My People Come From the
Land by Frank Waln. Outro song Stand Up / Stand N Rock
by Taboo. Audio engineered by Genta Tamashiro. Episode photo by
Andrew Merz.


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Bourbon ’n BrownTown
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