It’s that time of the year again. Thanksgiving is here, nestled nicely between two extremely commercial “holidays,” Halloween and Christmas. It is a time that we come together to give thanks and then, the day after, to give all of our hard earned money away to the retail industry. Thanksgiving is a complex holiday because even though we are celebrating a universal belief — the spirit of giving and being humble and thankful for all that we have been given — it started out pretty horribly for the Native Americans and continued badly for many others. The narrative surrounding Thanksgiving is often replete with tales of happiness and giving, when quite the opposite was occurring during this time for many groups. The cynic in me often wonders just what are we giving thanks for — smallpox, mass murder, extreme hatred? The grown-up in me knows that at this point, focusing on the negative is counterproductive and the idea of Thanksgiving is a great one!
People often say that good intentions go bad. That is true in many instances but Thanksgiving is a holiday where the opposite is true. It is a holiday that started out problematic for many, but has become a day where most people truly give thanks for what they have and engage in the act of giving. Giving is something that we should be doing throughout the year, and Thanksgiving serves as a reminder of that. It is that big road sign that prompts us to put family, friends and service at the top of our schedule, at least one day out of the year. It’s like a gentle reminder to remember those for whom we are thankful and who add value to our lives.
Instead of my usual tirade, I decided to list the things for which I am thankful — some important and others quite frivolous. A great family; great friends; great neighbors; my dog; employment; education; my mother’s swift recovery; my dad’s intellect and sense of humor; love; happiness; peace; resistance; a new president; President George W. Bush surviving the White House for eight years; America surviving Bush for eight years; my soon-to-be godchild; my sister’s strength; my house; many professional opportunities; CL; sanity; financial security; my personal assistant aka LaConcierge; students; Grandpa Joe; Grandma Shirley; my godparents; Family Guy; film noir; the Killer Bs, Kelly R and E-boogie; The Girls; Rhonda, Maya and Donna; good health; health insurance; being single without children; peace and quiet; my office; my love of film; the late Ivan Dixon; decent weather; my culinary skills; wine; live music; great musicians; fall; my boss; my laptop; my sense of community; Burtons; Johnsons; Agees; Allens; Gores; the ability to travel; passports; democracy; freedom; Dr. Cornish; Dr. Stam; Dr. Sklaar; Dr. Kinder; Dr. McPherson; Dr. Spigel; Dr. Yancy; Dr. Staton; Dr. Morris; the late Dr. Joyce Stanley Scott; Dr. Guerrero; Dr. Smith-Shomade; Dr. Frederick; the three Margarets; Karen Shugart; Kimberly Lawson; Carlton Hargro; Charity Frederick; Cindy Barnes-Thomas; Dan and Renee; Trader Joe’s; Dean and DeLuca; Sol Kitchen; aging well; spas; meditation; eastern philosophies; Virginia pride; having fire in my belly; citizen journalists; coffee; jewelry; DVR; heat; air conditioning; dishwashers; crooked teeth; the ability to read; writing; journals; fashion accessories; swimming pools; intellectuals; the Renaissance; the Harlem Renaissance; Tananarive Due; Toni Morrison; Skechers; the ODBA; the ACLU; Oliver Hill; Thurgood Marshall; being alive; having reliable transportation; my flaws; haters; lovers; acceptance; rejection; the ability to forgive; the ability to never forget; barbecue; my mother’s cooking; ATMs; hot showers; Jacuzzi bathtubs; donations; an income; outside interests; not settling in life or love; a willingness to change; knowing who I am; self-esteem; mean girl discernment; my driving record; board games; card games; gumbo; fresh lemonade; iPods; XM radio; the Internet; memories; my true belief in equality; my home decoration skills; confidence; passion; ability to feel; emotional intensity; resiliency; creativity; life experience; film festivals; Darlinda and Terry; learning to say no; giving; Philly cheesesteaks; birthdays; fellowship; spirituality; strong moral values; the practicing of strong moral values; faith; loyalty; kindness; bitchiness; zinc; jeans; boots; the color blue; the smell of oranges; the taste of honey; clear blue skies; ice cream; chocolate; sweet tea; the feel of rain; butterflies in the stomach; strength; prosperity; the good in all of us; happy couples; faithful couples; the sound of children laughing; my sister smiling; my dog wagging her tail; breathing; thinking; caring; living.
Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of communications and media studies at Goucher College and editorial director for RushmoreDrive.com.
This article appears in Nov 24 – Dec 2, 2008.
