The Socialist Program with Brian Becker U.S. Capitalism Born in Blood: From the First Thanksgiving to Today w/ Dr. Gerald Horne [Preview]
Nov 27, 2025
Dr. Gerald Horne, a distinguished professor at the University of Houston and author on slavery and capitalism, delves into the dark origins of U.S. capitalism. He challenges the myth of a peaceful Thanksgiving, exposing the brutal realities of colonial expansion and its effects on Indigenous peoples. Horne discusses Spain's early colonial advantages and the intertwining of religion with economic motives. He advocates for a materialist interpretation of U.S. history, emphasizing labor and class questions that reshape our understanding of past narratives.
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Capitalism Born In Blood
- Karl Marx's line frames U.S. capitalism as born in violence and exploitation rather than noble origins.
- Brian Becker uses Marx's materialism to challenge comforting creation myths about Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Creation Myth Summarized
- Brian Becker outlines the Thanksgiving creation myth about pious settlers aided by generous Indigenous people.
- He frames that narrative as a false, state-promoted origin story used to obscure violence.
Religion Masked Material Motives
- Gerald Horne contrasts Spanish and English colonial models and links religious shifts to material needs for labor and land.
- He argues Protestant England's colonization choices were driven by shortages of settlers, not enlightenment ideals.
