How to Talk to Your Family About Racism on Thanksgiving

Harper's Baazars ^ | November 19, 2018 | Rachel Cargle

[GuavaCheesePuff]

Toxic ideologies often start around family dinner tables. It's not just an uncle saying a racist joke, or a grandmother determining her xenophobic ideas as “a part of her time.” These comments seep into how we make decisions in voting booths, how judges rule in their chambers, how teachers guide students in school classrooms, how employment decisions are made, and how police react in high-stakes situations.

After a year of relentless atrocities that don’t always make for easy conversation at the dinner table, it's important to make Thanksgiving preparations beyond the tablescape and the menu. This year, I want you to prepare for something a little more nuanced than stuffing or cranberry sauce: I want you to prepare to rock the family boat, with important discussions that stretch beyond the surface of “How's the weather?” and “Who are you dating these days?” So, I'm coming to you with a guide that should push you beyond apathy, and instead, teach you how to be a part of the solution. As Angela Davis reminds us, it is not enough to not be racist. You have to be anti-racist, and if you are not actively being part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem. So here is some language to help you navigate Thanksgiving day dinner.

[Hoffer Rand]

I’ll bet somebody in Rachel’s family slips her a “special” cocktail or appetizer at the start of every holiday gathering, just to shut her up. I know my family would assign somebody that task. She’d sleep like a baby through the entire evening.

[trisham]

Thank goodness most of our lib relatives moved to Florida.

[trisham]

I hear you. I guess I’m a homebody.

[dfwgator]

It's so bad even my grandkids call me "grumpy grandpa!"

LOL, my kids started even calling me "Walter"....

[bgill]

I’ve never understood why people make such a big deal out of cooking the holiday meal. It’s hardly much more than a regular 30 minute meal. The oven does the work, not the cook. I was sick as a dog and in bed one year so our 4th grader made the whole spread from scratch. The only thing she asked me was how much sage to put in the dressing and I told her if she thinks there’s enough, add more. She did ask Mr. b to pull the 23 lb bird out of the oven for her.

Make the pies and cornbread for the dressing the day before. Put the turkey in the oven at 7 am, put the innards and eggs in a pot on the back burner to slowly cook and start the dough for the homemade rolls. Go sit down with a cup of coffee or two. At 10 am, prep the sides and shape the rolls. Then go sit down. At 11:30, pull the turkey out and put the sides in the oven. Go sit down, again. At 12:15, ring the dinner bell.

[bgill]

I’m seriously thinking of trying it this year.

There’s a 3 ingredient recipe we like that wraps bacon around chicken strips so why not cover the turkey. Chicken strips, bacon and the last ingredient is melting cream cheese in the pan drippings for a sauce.

[bgill]

Greet Rachel at the door with some Ex-Lax brownies.

[Lazamataz]

Good Lord. If this barking moonbat was MY relative, I’d never go to family gatherings.

[RinaseaofDs]

Can you imagine the gravy?

I’ve got a big 22 lbs. turkey for four of us (all about ‘dem leftovers). I’m with you. Very seriously considering it.

It’s going to be in there a while. Concerned it will burn to a crisp.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

And Orange Man especially bad!

[pgkdan]

I despise leftists. I don’t have a racist bone in my body. White, black or brown...I despise them all.

[pfflier]

Do you want white or...ummm...ehh...ahh...the other kind of meat. Is that what this means?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Yep. Under that ideology, we Whites are basically the Jews of 1930s Germany.

[bgill]

Cover it with foil and remove the foil the last 30 minutes should do the trick.

[Wallace T.]

The real purpose of this writer is to divide families. Unless a family is universally of one ideology, bringing up politics during Thanksgiving will only serve to lead to anger and severance of contact. Ditto for religion, even if the family is all, say, Catholic or Baptist, because of their intramural feuds.

That is the long term goal of the cultural Marxists, the destruction of the family or indeed any institutions not part of, or subsidiary to, the government.

[RinaseaofDs]

Yeah, I do that anyway when it gets that nice golden brown. Why would this be any different?

Kids aren’t going to eat the skin. Man, I’m very close to pulling the trigger on this.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I’m only cooking a breast. I guess I should expect a visit from Black Lives Matter.

As well as the #MeToo movement.

[Cecily]

How about just enjoying the holiday, and avoiding unpleasant and controversial topics? Declare a moratorium on the following topics:

1. Politics
2. Social problems
3. Health issues
4. Religion

Talk about the following, while avoiding bringing any of the above subjects into the conversation:

1. Sports
2. Movies
3. TV shows
4. Music
5. Neutral hobbies and interests, like gardening
6. Family/friend news which is neutral or positive
7. Humorous stories and jokes
8. Travel

[NorthMountain]

This year, I want you to STFU, you bitchy communist!!!!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I prefer dark meat. Once you go “black”, you don’t go back! :-D