“Woke” schools across the country are twisting the meaning of Thanksgiving this holiday season, according to a report.
Fox News notes, for example, that at the University of California – Davis, the so-called California History-Social Science Project hosted an event last week called “Decolonizing Thanksgiving in the Classroom.”
“We will discuss reframing classroom practices and rituals about Thanksgiving,” a description of the now-passed event reads.
“Centering perspectives from Turtle Island (a name for North America used by some indigenous people) will help us decolonize Thanksgiving and spark new conversations about how to authentically make meaning of this holiday with our students,” the description continues.
Why do taxpayers support the California History/Social Studies Project? It’s pure Woke propaganda. https://t.co/kXvECvnAiW
— Dissident Teacher (@edudissenter) November 12, 2025
Over at Washington University, meanwhile, the pro-DEI school published a press release promoting an event that “highlights and honors the way different cultures recognize and understand Thanksgiving, both as part of their history and as a tradition brought into the present day.”
According to Fox News, the event has been described as a way to “actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.”
Sounds pretty “woke” …
Then there’s the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which on Tuesday reportedly invited students to the “4th annual Thanksgiving Myth-busting” dinner that’s geared toward “continuing our exploration of the narratives justifying land grabs via colonialism.”
“Part of that effort, according to the invitation, includes students traveling in rental cars to the annual National Indigenous Day of Mourning (NDOM) rally in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the location of the Mayflower’s landing,” according to Fox News.
Hundreds marched today in Plymouth, MA in observance of the National Day of Mourning.
Organized by the United American Indians of New England, Indigenous people and supporters gather each year on Thanksgiving to honor the holiday’s true history of colonialism. pic.twitter.com/4gbfwMtx0z
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) November 29, 2024
The dinner will also involve watching a Thanksgiving episode of the popular show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
In a statement, an MIT spokesperson dismissed the event by arguing that the school is closed on Thanksgiving.
“In the same way that individuals are free at MIT to express their views, they are free to observe holidays as they wish, pray as they choose, share their ideas about holidays, and, yes, watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer if that’s what they freely choose to do,” they said.
Next up is the University of Massachusetts, which reportedly refers to Thanksgiving as a “Day of Mourning” in an announcement to the DEI portion of its website.
“The National Day of Mourning is an annual demonstration, held on the fourth Thursday in November, that aims to educate the public about Native Americans in the United States, notably the Wampanoag and other tribes of the Eastern United States; dispel myths surrounding the Thanksgiving story in the United States; and raise awareness toward historical and ongoing struggles facing Native American tribes,” the announcement reads.
Next is the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, which hosted a discussion earlier this month about “Harvesting the Truth: Colonial Disruptions of Indigenous Food Systems & the Myths of Thanksgiving.”
But it’s not just colleges.
Fox News notes that students in the Albuquerque Public Schools District in New Mexico were sent a warning that “many native people do not celebrate” Thanksgiving because it serves as a “reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the appropriation of Native lands, and the erasure of Indigenous cultures.”
The Berkeley Unified School District in California likewise distributed a “Rethinking Thanksgiving Teaching Guide” that referred to Thanksgiving with the term “mourning” and asked readers to consider the “painful legacy” and “nuanced perspectives” of the holiday.
Paul Runko, the senior director of Strategic Initiatives at Defending Education, slammed these schools in a statement to Fox News.
“Thanksgiving is meant to bring people together, not to divide students or cast blame over heritage,” he said. “It is an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to celebrate America, build unity in their communities, and share a meal with family and friends.”
“236 years ago, President George Washington urged Americans to set aside a day to give thanks for the blessings and abundance of our nation. Presidents throughout our history have continued that tradition, reminding us each Thanksgiving to pause and reflect with gratitude,” he added.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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