In a day of renown by some and mourning by others, the majority culture shared resources with new minority immigrant families, bettered their lives, and gave their sustenance and care a fighting chance.

“Thanksgiving as a holiday originates from the Native American philosophy of giving without expecting anything in return. In the first celebration of this Holiday, the Wampanoag tribe provided food for the feast and the teachings of agriculture and hunting (corn, beans, wild rice, and turkey are some specific examples of foods introduced by Native Americans).”

Online resource The History of Thanksgiving from the Native American Perspective (nativehope.org)

The harsh new environment would have killed the Europeans without the goodwill of the Wampanoag Tribe’s show of Health Equity.

In many ways, November is National Health Month, from American Diabetes Month, Bladder Health Month, Diabetic Eye Disease Month, National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, and National Family Health History Day to name a few.

Unfortunately, the Marginalized BIPOC communities of today have not realized health equity and continue to be affected and suffer the most from the health issues acknowledged this month, along with many more. The question is how we as a nation can dismantle these disparities in the authentic spirit of the Holiday.

Listen to the words from Native Hope, of which Three-Fifths Magazine stands in like-mindedness to begin to turn the corner for change this Thanksgiving.

“What is the Real Meaning of Thanksgiving?

Here at Native Hope, we hope that this Thanksgiving, the hearts of all people, Native and non-Native, are filled with hope, healing, and a desire to dismantle the barriers—physical, economic, educational, psychological, and spiritual— that divide us and oppress us.”

Finally, we are reminded of the words of Paul in Scripture.

“Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is.” 3 John 1:2 Living Bible (TLB)