There’s more to the Thanksgiving origin story than pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a meal together. We talk to a professor to learn about the true beginnings of Thanksgiving. As the number of Americans identifying as belonging to more than one race increases, we discuss how race and identity intersect.
Featured in this Show
-
What Do We Really Know About Thanksgiving?
For many, Thanksgiving’s origin story conjures an image of a landmark meal shared by pilgrims and Native Americans. But our guest says that’s not quite right. He tells us how the meal took on a narrative more romantic than reality, and explains how the myth affects Native people today.
-
Biracial Identity in the Age of Obama and Markle
In the 2010 census, 4.2 million Americans identified as belonging to more than one race and that number is projected to rise. Our guest explains how high profile biracial individuals like President Barack Obama and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle are symbolic of societal changes. We also discuss how race and identity intersect, how traditional views of race reinforce structural racism and how biracial and multi-ethnic identities may evolve culture.
Episode Credits
- John Munson Host
- Laura Pavin Producer
- Jana Rose Schleis Producer
- Gary Johnson Guest
- Kimberly Barrett Guest
- Sarah Hopefl Technical Director
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2025, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.