I have an idea.

Since black folks dig thanksgiving so much, why don't native Americans celebrate the day our first African descendants where forcibly brought to this country. 

I think it'd be hip.

Don't you?

The meso amercian blood in me curdles at the idea of thanksgiving.  I love kickin it with my fams, the great food, funny stories and the drama my crazy relatives stir up, is something I look forward to.  I must admit I find it kinda weird how my Mexican side has embraced the holiday, same applies to my Caribbean side.  I say this because both cultures have experienced the effects of genocide, and are the direct products of a peoples struggle to survive.  Historically speaking black folk and American natives have looked out for each other.  And the illest cowboys were actually black, Mexican, and Native American. 

Damn, I'm straying again..  back to my original point.

  The last few thanksgivings were spent with my wife's amazing family.  Beautiful black people whose native American influence is evident in their features.  

  So I've spent thanksgiving with three distinct cultures who's most "common genetic theme" for lack of better words, is arawak/meso/native American blood.  I've eaten and watched and prayed with my families, and have never heard any real mention of our native American brother's and sister's.  not to say that is isn't a lingering thought in the back of everyone's minds, it's just not brought up much, particularly amongst the elders. 

  my mom (who is the main the source of all my "un-american values, thanks mama!), always called out thanksgiving for what it really was, a pretty fucked holiday.  I remember in grade school (St. Francis Xavier), arguing with my teacher about the validity of the thanksgiving story, and getting put in detention for refusing to participate in the annual thanksgiving day play.  You can guess who played the natives and who played the pilgrims, but anyway.

  I don't think I've ever met a full blooded north amercian native.  I worked with some dude who for the most part considered himself white, until it was time to get his casino check.  I've never had the honor of going to a pow wow, or kickin it with my "cousins" on a rez.  I haven't even introduced myself to native American literature, but I will make a conserted effort to change all of that.  There are amazing nations quickly being absorbed by American culture.  Of course there are those who don't see anything wrong with that, but you how the cliché goes about assholes and opinions.

  Thanksgiving will always be celebrated, it's a part of the American psyche, sorta like racism.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to acknowledge those who were here before us, those who took care of our world and communed with nature and respected her, particularly on thanksgiving.  Our family time shouldn't be decided by the whims of industry, we shouldn't be pressured into showing that special someone in our lifes how much we love them on a made up holiday (which ultimately, all of our holidaze are, especially Christmas).

  So imma spark this spliff and meditate on our indeginous brothers and sisters worldwide and their contributions to the world we live in.

Give thanks.

Tony Cortes