November 28th: Beyond Thanksgiving—A Reckoning with the Past
Thanksgiving, for many, is a day of gratitude and tradition. But for others, it is a day heavy with the weight of history—marked by the legacies of genocide, economic exploitation, and racism. For Georgians, November 28th carries an additional burden: it is the anniversary of the last enslaved Africans brought to the state, a reminder of humanity betrayed.
In 1858, the Wanderer sailed into Jekyll Island’s shadowed shores. Once a symbol of luxury and speed, the yacht had been reconfigured for a far more hideous purpose. Hidden beneath its polished exterior were 409 West African men, women, and children who were stolen from their homeland and transported across the Atlantic in defiance of the Slave Importation Act of 1807, which had outlawed such horrors. Ninety souls perished in the bowels of that ship before reaching land.
The Wanderer’s arrival was not just a crime of law but a moral abomination—a cruel testament to greed and power. It deepened the divide between North and South, its impact rippling toward the Civil War, which would erupt three years later. By the war’s end, the surviving captives were declared free. Yet freedom did not heal the wounds of displacement or restore the lives and homes stolen from them.
On this day, let us move beyond sanitized celebrations and confront the truths beneath them. Let us mourn with Indigenous communities for the lands and lives taken. Let us remember the men, women, and children forced onto the Wanderer—their names lost but their humanity enduring.
This is not just a moment for reflection but for action. The Wanderer is a reminder that injustice thrives when the powerful exploit and the masses remain silent. Let November 28th challenge us to rise, to speak, and to honor those who endured history’s most horrific chapters with resilience and courage.
Beyond Acknowledgement: Respecting the Land and the People
Chrysalis Lab is devoted to promoting diversity and inclusion by helping organizations transform their internal cultures. We believe land acknowledgement should only be used when they are grounded in integrity and provide a framework for open dialogue and action.
A Land acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes the Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of the land on which you currently live or work.
More than anything, remember that Native Nations are sovereign governments with their own cultures, beliefs and jurisdictions and deserve our respect as the original inhabitants of the lands we now build community on.
Here are some tips for crafting a land acknowledgment:
- The acknowledgment should be genuine and motivated by respect and support for Indigenous peoples.
- Land acknowledgments shouldn’t be repeatedly used pre-scripted statements since it may appear insincere. Personalize them as much as possible.
- Research Indigenous place names and include them in local land acknowledgements. For instance, in Georgia, it would be appropriate to acknowledge the primary Indigenous American nations who inhabited the state which were the Cherokee Nation and Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
- Prior to penning a land acknowledgement, engage in dialogue with Native Nations and people who have ancestral lands there to get their input. Find ways to partner with Native people and Tribal Nations.
- If you ask Tribal Nations or Native people to help prepare or deliver the statement, be prepared to offer compensation. You might also consider making donations to organizations that support Tribal sovereignty.
- Include action steps for supporting Indigenous people. Make sure the actions are what Tribal Nations actually want. Tribal Nations are clear about their priorities – all we need to do is ask.
- Don't use language that makes it sound like Native people are no longer here. Today, there are 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. with vibrant cultures and sovereign governments.
Sources: https://www.eliseblasingame.com/land-acknowledgment
https://fakequity.com/2020/11/20/land-acknowledgements/
https://nativegov.org/news/a-guide-to-indigenous-land-acknowledgment/
https://illuminative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Land_Acknowledgement.pdf
