US celebrates the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving

This fall, the United States celebrates the 400th anniversary of the “first Thanksgiving” in Plymouth, MA. While beloved for its calorie-laden feast, Thanksgiving is also the subject of questions about inclusion, imperialism, and the importance of context in the historical narrative. To mark the occasion, on November 4, Gordon College is hosting two panels to discuss history as we know it—and as we don’t—and legacies of “founding” narratives for present-day issues in American culture and politics. The event will be available via live stream.

Entitled “Who ‘Belongs’ at Uncle Sam’s Thanksgiving Table? Research and Dialogue on American History, Identity, and Immigration,” this event convenes leading historians, political scientists, and theologians to discuss diverse Christian perspectives on Thanksgiving, the role of historians in shaping public historical memory, and the importance of constructive self-critique. The first panel discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. followed by the next panel at 7:30 p.m. Each panel will be preceded by a reception with light refreshments.

"Four centuries on from the Mayflower landing and the 'first Thanksgiving,' the ambiguity involved in the Plymouth legacy remains a part of the debate over what America is, who is included, and,most controversially, who gets to decide," said Matthew Rowley, Visiting Fellow at the University of Leicester and guest editor of a just-released special Thanksgiving symposium in The Review of Faith & International Affairs.

Panelists Include:

Matthew Rowley, University of Leicester

Richard Pickering, Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Nicholas Rowe, Gordon College

Stephen Alter, Gordon College

Mark Charles, Native American activist, author, and speaker

Soong-Chan Rah, Fuller Theological Seminary

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Freedom House

Roberto Miranda, Lion of Judah Church

Hosted by the Gordon College Political Science, Philosophy, and History Department and made possible by a $30,000 networking grant from The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public and takes place in the Ken Olsen Science Center on Gordon's campus at 255 Grapevine Rd. For information, contact Dr. Melkonian-Hoover, Professor,and project director, at ruth.melkonian@gordon.edu or visit https://www.gordon.edu/thanksg.