GDW EVENT ALERT: WHYY PRESENTS The Myth of Thanksgiving: Native American Perspectives on 'The Pilgrims"

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Subject: The Myth of Thanksgiving: Native American Perspectives on ‘The Pilgrims’
Reply-To: american_experience@wgbh.org

Free virtual event on Nov 18.

If you are having trouble reading this email, view it in your browser. Corporate sponsors November 18 at 4pm EST Inspired by the 2015 film The Pilgrims, American Experience presents a special discussion sharing Native American perspectives on the arrival of European settlers in New England, 400 years ago. The conversation will examine the experiences of Native populations at the time of the settlers' arrival, what is actually known about the first Thanksgiving, and how native tribes see themselves in today's construction of the United States.  Featured guests include:  Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag, historian and independent scholar Cassius Spears, Knowledge Keeper and Narragansett Tribal Member  The discussion will be moderated by Yvonne Russo, a filmmaker and member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribal Nation. Special remarks to be provided by writer and director of The Pilgrims, Ric Burns.  The event takes place on November 18 from 4-5pm EST and will be live streamed for free through our YouTube and Facebook pages. RSVP HERE I love PBS and this is the appropriate time to have this conversation.  Being of Native American and African American Heritage, and having grown up in a culture that actually has a holiday set aside to be thankful, it's a difficult one to broach when you consider the fact that the originators of the event were actually predators and genocidal maniacs.  Can we actually continue to honor the culture apart from it's treacherous beginnings?  I love PBS and this is the appropriate time to have this conversation.  Being of Native American and African American Heritage, and having grown up in a culture that actually has a holiday set aside to be thankful, it's a difficult one to broach when you consider the fact that the originators of the event were actually predators and genocidal maniacs.  Can we actually continue to honor the culture apart from it's treacherous beginnings? -GDW

 

In case you missed it...

We're excited to present monthly conversations inspired by the history presented in our films. Stay tuned for upcoming topics, and feel free to send us ideas for speakers or themes you'd love to see covered.  If you missed any of our recent virtual events but don't want to miss out on the conversation, you can watch the recordings on our YouTube channel, or at the links below.  In September, we presented a conversation with internationally acclaimed historian and author Martha Jones on her new book Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for all.   WATCH HERE In October, we presented a conversation moderated by American Experience Executive Producer Cameo George with filmmaker Stanley Nelson. Nelson and George discussed three of Nelson's Civil Rights films: The Murder of Emmett Till, Freedom Riders, and Freedom Summer. WATCH HERE WATCH ON JOIN THE CONVERSATION Major funding for  American Experience  provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, Consumer Cellular and by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Additional funding provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, The Documentary Investment Group, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.  American Experience  is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston. Copyright © 2020 American Experience. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe from the American Experience Newsletter. Unsubscribe from all American Experience email subscriptions. This email was sent from: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE WGBH Educational Foundation One Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135