This is the weekly column written by Blavity: Politics Senior Editor Kandist Mallett.

On Thanksgiving Day, millions of people will join at dinner tables with family, friends or perhaps just acquaintances. While it might be taboo to discuss politics at the dinner table due to a fear of where the conversation might go, I want to challenge everyone to embrace the awkwardness and have some political discourse this Thanksgiving.

Here are 5 things you should absolutely discuss with your family over some turkey or Tofurkey.

1. 13% of Black men voted for Trump. Were you one of them, boo?

The night of the 2016 election had most of us shook, but what ended up being most surprising—and maybe it shouldn’t have—was that 13% of Black men showed up to the voting booth in favor of Donald Trump. Was it that Black men would rather have a white man be the president than a white woman? Were they big fans of The Apprentice and his casinos? Come on, 13%! We need answers!

It’s possible that one of those 13% is in your family. So while you’re chowing down on your mac and cheese and greens, make sure you ask your uncle who he is voting for ahead of the 2020 election.

2. 2020 is about building Black equity. How can we put our coins together, so we all grow?

Economists have been issuing warnings of another possible financial collapse. In 2008 when the Great Recession hit, Black people were the most negatively impacted, and many are still recovering from the results of the financial crisis. Having discussions now on how we can help and support each other is key to protecting ourselves and our loved ones from economic insecurity.

Perhaps everyone can decide to pause on the Christmas presents for a year and instead invest in cryptocurrency or stocks together. Or maybe grandma’s pie deserves to be shared with more than your family. Put your cousin who loves to brag about their Ivy League education to work and create a business plan that can help bring profits for the whole family.

3. Smash the patriarchy! Who did the cooking and cleaning?

Speaking of grandma’s pie, Thanksgiving dinner, and holiday dinners in general, tend to bring out traditional gender roles. Women are often in the kitchen preparing the feast, while the men watch or play football as they wait. But like most traditions from our past, these roles require some re-evaluating. Have the young men (and the older ones) help out with the cooking. And if you are afraid they’re going to overcook the greens, then make sure they’re on cleanup duty. But, one thing is for sure: In 2019, men should be making their own plate. And if he’s a good one, he’ll be making yours, too.

In my house, I grew up with my father and mother cooking dinner together, and both my brother and I were on cleanup duty. That sort of equality in the household is important for young children to witness as we work to create a more equal society outside of the household.

4. Check in on each other, and make sure everyone is doing well.

Thanksgiving dinner is a great time to check in on one another. While it might seem like your cousin Denise is living her best life because of all the photos she's been posting on Instagram, taking the time to actually check in with your family and their mental health is something we should all be doing.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey, suicide rates among Black youth are up. Let’s take this time to let our loved ones know that we’re here for them, and that it’s okay to not always feel okay.

5. Evaluate the Thanksgiving table. How can we reduce our waste next year?

One thing I think we can all agree on one as our least favorite part of Thanksgiving is the cleanup. For this reason, families often opt for using disposable dishware. And while that might save some time in the kitchen, it just adds to the waste and pollution taking place in our environment. As you're prepping for your Thanksgiving dinner, think about how you can reduce your carbon footprint on our planet.

In addition, be mindful of the amount of food you consume. While Thanksgiving leftovers help ensure we’re not wasting our food, we should begin to question if we really need to consume so much just because it's the holiday.

So, there you have it! Take a chance on your family and have some real discussions over the dinner table this Thanksgiving.

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