Site icon DemCast

Another Resistance -Thanksgiving in the shadow of Trump

Indivisible Ventura

Graphic from Indivisible Ventura.

Thanksgiving is a complicated American holiday. It’s both a secular feast day centered around gatherings of family and friends and a yearly reinforcement of our wildly inaccurate origin story, a cultural mythology that obfuscates our colonialist history. Its placement on the calendar also makes it the starting bell to our annual flood of extended consumerism, the intensity of which is read like tea leaves by investors and the stock market to determine the economic health of our nation.

Here are some resources we’ve been collecting that might come in handy as you navigate political waters over the gravy boat, and for when and where you decide to spend your post-dinner dollars.

During your family’s dinner, keep your cool and make a difference where you can.

Here is an awesome guide from IndivisibleSF (San Francisco) on how to talk to your friends and family about Trump. Start from deciding if talking is physically dangerous or just uncomfortable. “If you’re just worried that the conversation will be unpleasant, but you’re not worried about it being dangerous to you, we encourage you to speak up. It may not be pleasant, but it is what your country needs from you.”

Then it give solid ideas on how to tackle conversations, from unfunny “jokes” to attacks on “political correctness”, along with a list of great reference materials.

Take notes for future holiday gift ideas! 

Michele at Small Deeds Done has great holiday gift ideas for these relatives based on their Thankgiving dinner-table conversations, including those who:

Pull out your laptop or tablet and make sure everyone is registered to vote. Yes, be that relative.

Before you join the after-holiday shopping frenzy, investigate greener products and greener ways to shop:

Commit to buying gifts from black-owned businesses:

This week is Shop Black Week, where every consumer is asked to support a black-owned business by making at least one purchase between November 22nd and 29th in order to “permanently and systematically change the economic condition of the Black community forever.” Click here for participating businesses in your state.

After you eat – play games, talk, read a book, take a nap, watch a movie, sing Alice’s Restaurant and dance around the kitchen – just don’t go shopping on Thanksgiving Day!

(From Labor 411) For the past two weeks,  Labor 411 has been shining a spotlight on how companies are treating their workers this Thanksgiving Day. They have generated tremendous public awareness, informing consumers on who the ethical (and unethical) employers are.

Companies like Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Target, that have put their profits over the people who work for them. Remember, they aren’t offering critical services, like emergency room workers, police officers or firefighters. These are companies that just sell you stuff, like a television, one day earlier than Black Friday, at the cost of low paid employees not getting a paid day off to spend with their families like everyone else. These companies participating in this abusive practice are listed here and here.

Sign this petition to tell Walmart, Target and Macy’s to give their employees Thanksgiving Day off.

These companies will close, allowing their workers a day to enjoy time with friends and family. (Labor 411) (theblackfriday.com)

Originally posted on Indivisible Ventura. Re-posted with permission.

DemCast is an advocacy-based 501(c)4 nonprofit. We have made the decision to build a media site free of outside influence. There are no ads. We do not get paid for clicks. If you appreciate our content, please consider a small monthly donation.

Exit mobile version