Halloween is the only time of year that a person can dress up as whatever they want without the risk of judgement from their peers — that is, until a costume takes a turn from clever to potentially offensive.
Racially stereotypical costumes have been a Halloween trend for many years, likely thanks to how easy it is to put one together. It isn’t too difficult to throw a sombrero on your head or to buy an American Indian outfit from Halloween stores, but there’s a difference between dressing up as Pocahontas and dressing up as a sexy American Indian. While one of them is an iconic historical figure and Disney character, the other could represent cultural ignorance to those of American Indian descent, despite the best of intentions.
On a campus as racially and ethnically diverse as MSU, it’s especially important to be aware of how others might respond to your choice in costume. Covering your face with war paint and wearing a headdress to portray an American Indian warrior is the type of costume that can be perceived as a mockery of the culture, even if the wearer doesn’t realize it.
It’s important when dressing up for Halloween to remain culturally aware of those around us to avoid being unintentionally disrespectful.
Something that might seem humorous to some might strike others as crude or offensive. Dressing in an Arabic turban isn’t a strikingly original costume and neither is wearing a sombrero and fake mustache while holding a taco. Unless the person wearing it is surrounded by fans of easy humor with little imagination, it won’t bring out many laughs, either
Worse than unintentional offenses, some costumes are so undeniably racist and insensitive, they can hardly be considered “creative” or “humorous.”
A photo recently circulated social media that showed two men dressed as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman at a Halloween party. The man dressed as Martin wore blackface makeup and a hoodie covered in fake blood, while the man depicting Zimmerman sported a shirt that read “Neighborhood Watch.” To add to the costumes’ disturbing effect, the man dressed as Zimmerman shaped his hand as a gun and pointed it at the man dressed as Martin while posing for the photo.
Their costume was not a naive mistake. It was a malicious reminder of a tragedy that the entire nation witnessed. Even if the pair thought it would be a witty joke, Martin’s family likely doesn’t appreciate them making light of their still fresh tragedy. There is nothing respectable in a joke made at someone else’s suffering and there is no excuse for this behavior.
Halloween doesn’t give people a free pass to behave or dress offensively. It’s okay to have fun and wear ridiculous costumes, but people should be aware of how their costume makes others around them feel. Stereotypes and stigmas are a daily reality for the people and cultures the costumes represent and seeing their culture portrayed in a ridiculing light, even if it’s just for holiday fun, might feel like a slap to the face. A person’s culture is a reflection of who they are, and turning something that others hold meaningful and close to their hearts into the punchline of a Halloween joke isn’t a laughing matter.
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