Distasteful Halloween Costumes

A speculation of this year’s costumes 

Halloween is the time of year when people dress up in spooky costumes. Some people do it just to be in the mood of scaring the living bejesus out of you, or others to create racist remarks. These remarks are sometimes created unintentionally, wearing Indian (Native American) headbands or wearing an elegant Geisha Kimono (simply because of their fascination with the culture,) others do it to be plainly offensive; black face, the Mexican costume, and recently the “Trayvon Martin” costume.

This comes into question whether or not Halloween should be a holiday where people can express themeseves in a free manner. Racial related costumes provide little insight of cultural blending, and more of cultural appropriation. There is little cultural appreciation going on as people are using their own privilege to take a culture and make a mockery of it. It also is the issue when a person from that culture makes fun of their own background— I have seen this account in previous Halloweens.

A teenager, who happens to be Hispanic, decided to wear a Mexican poncho and a sombrero on Halloween. I asked him the reason why he wore the get up, and he responded with an answer that had traces of insecurity of why he wore the costume. He made up a lie to hide his true intent—to make fun of his culture. He explained that his costume displayed a sense of cultural respectfulness, but his fake curly mustache, the big glittery “taco”phrase written across his poncho, and his weird colored poncho did not convince me. Cultural appropriation is presented within people of that very same culture.

It sometimes is difficult when people make fun of their own cultures for laughing material. I see it as a way for individuals to fit in within a group of people who are accepting them, only for the reason that they appropriate the racial judgment.

For some people, other people’s culture are just disposible piece of plastic clothing acquired at Party City, or other major companies that promote racial inequality .