Thanksgiving owes its popularity to two incidents in United States history: the Civil War and the immigration boom of the 1800s. President Lincoln urged Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving in the spirit of reconciliation while the war raged on, while the later rise in immigration inspired cultural leaders to offer Thanksgiving as an opportunity to welcome newcomers. Here are some of the ways immigrants have contributed to the holiday.

 

Pumpkin pie

It was the United States’ first immigrants who decided to combine this indigenous fruit (yes, pumpkin is a fruit) with a quintessential English invention: pie.

 

Bread

Do you know who owns your local bakery? Nearly 6 million workers in the United states are employed at immigrant-owned businesses, large and small.

 

Pecan pie

French immigrants were fascinated by the hard-shelled nuts introduced to them by Native Americans, eventually adding corn syrup, eggs and vanilla to create the “New Orleans Pie.”

 

Green bean casserole

Did you know that 73% of all farmworkers were born outside the United States?

 

Apple pie

The apples we enjoy aren’t indigenous to the United States. Cuttings were brought by immigrants. Now we make them into the most classic of American foods based on English and Dutch recipes—apple pie!

 

Turkey

Migrant workers employed in poultry plants put in eight to 10 hour days, almost seven days a week to make sure this hearty bird makes its way to your table.

 

Apple cider

Cider was brought to the United States by the English, but it actually originated in medieval France.

 

Cranberry sauce

Native Americans introduced English immigrants to smashed cranberries, a term which is actually derived from the German kranberee— showing us that language and food migrate as much as people!

 

Sweet potato casserole

North Carolina is the largest supplier of this root native to Central and South America. Despite increased demand, migrant farmworkers only paid one penny per pound of sweet potatoes picked.

 

Mashed potatoes

The first recipe for mashed potatoes was published in the United Kingdom in 1747. The book was so popular, even the founding fathers had a copy!

 

Stuffing

Europeans have been eating stuffing since the Roman Empire, which explains why we have a variety of recipes! German-American recipes favor dried fruit, while Italian-American recipes suggest adding sausage.

 

Tamales

The newest of Thanksgiving traditions, tamales have been eaten for millenniums in Latin America.

 

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Further reading:

• A short course on the history of 8 Thanksgiving foods (The Washington Post)
• The United States of Thanksgiving (The New York Times)
• The story behind the most classic Thanksgiving foods (Taste of Home)
• America cannot eat without immigrant food workers. These are their stories. (New Food Economy)
• Inside the life of an apple picker (NPR)
• The first Thanksgiving (The New York Times)

A typical day at a CASA de Maryland Workforce Center includes individuals arriving as early as 6 a.m. looking for employment. Many employers from the community are business owners, home owners and other individuals that need manpower for the day’s work. In addition to help promoting their skills as day laborers, CASA staff realized their foreign-born clients also needed training to enhance their skills.

In the beginning, CASA offered a pilot program with a volunteer professor who taught a class on residential and commercial painting. Students learned the techniques of professional painters. This pilot class was met with huge demand. Twelve years later, CASA de Maryland hosts more than five different classes on topics such as childcare, electrical work, home improvement, blueprint reading, HVAC/air conditioning and heating, and building maintenance, all resulting in certifications and licenses.

Through the expansion of their vocational program, CASA de Maryland was able to partner with two of Maryland’s largest counties, Montgomery County and Prince George County, and their community colleges to bring part-time professors to teach the 10-week courses. Classes are taught in English and Spanish and hold about 15 students at a time. Students attending these classes are from all over the world, including El Salvador, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Venezuela. The courses have gained significant public support. Last year, the Montgomery County government provided CASA with $4,000 for student scholarships. A few local employers have also paid for their employees to get the certifications and professional licenses available through these courses.  

“CASA has seen an influx of individuals gaining full-time and permanent employment after they complete these courses. It gives them a boost of self-esteem they didn’t have before,” says Jacinta Nino, CASA de Maryland’s vocational program coordinator.

A student enrolled in the building maintenance engineer class states, “this is an opportunity for me to be a part of my community and give back to them.”

Through their vocational program, CASA embodies its mission of creating a more just society by improving the quality of life of the working class and immigrant communities. CLINIC applauds the team at CASA de Maryland and their efforts to create a community of inclusion.

The Center for Immigrant Integration wants to hear from you and your community on the ways you promote integration. Email CLINIC Integration Program Manager Leya Speasmaker at lspeasmaker@cliniclegal.org or tweet us at @cliniclegal.