Thanksgiving The Day of Mourning, Nov. 27, 2008 Coles Hill Plymouth, MA

United American Indians of New England

Day of Mourning came into being in 1970 as a direct result of the state's need to keep the Pilgrim mythology alive. Wamsutta Frank James had been invited to address a gathering of dignitaries commemorating the 350th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims. Because his remarks did not fit the mythology, he was told that he could not give the speech he had written. The state was more than willing to write a speech for him that would keep the lies alive. He refused to have words placed in his mouth. Instead of speaking to a group of dignitaries in the warmth of a banquet hall, he and a small group of Native Americans came here to Plymouth, stood in the cold, and declared US Thanksgiving Day a National Day of Mourning.