It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.
NasRead
The Chinamen built the railroad, the Indians saved the Pilgrim,_x000D_ _x000D_ And in return, the Pilgrim killed 'em._x000D_ _x000D_ They call it it Thanksgiving, I call your holiday 'hell-day.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the hypocrisy of Thanksgiving, highlighting the plight of the Indigenous people and the contributions of marginalized laborers.
In this quote, Nas draws attention to the dark history behind the Thanksgiving holiday, pointing out that while Pilgrims are celebrated for their survival and gratitude, the reality is that the contributions of the Chinese laborers who built the railroad and the Indigenous people who helped the Pilgrims were overshadowed by violence and oppression. By calling Thanksgiving a 'hell-day,' he emphasizes the painful history that is often ignored in favor of a narrative focused on gratitude and celebration.
Themes
ThanksgivingHistoryIndigenous RightsHypocrisyLabor
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Thanksgiving.
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