All right, folks. It’s that time of year again, when pumpkin becomes its own staple food group, leaves decide to let go and Halloween specialty stores compete with one another to see who can stock the most racist and culturally insensitive Halloween costumes. With that in mind, here is a friendly reminder to all of my readers — but especially the white ones — not to buy or make a racist costume.
You might be wondering what constitutes a racist or culturally insensitive Halloween costume. To put it shortly and sweetly, if it involves changing your skin color or facial features to match those of a different race or ethnicity, or any type of “traditional clothing,” it’s safe to say that your costume is racist. That means no sombreros, sarees or Native American “fringe dresses,” and definitely no black face or “Asian eyes.”
But wait, you may argue, how will the public know that you’re dressed up as *insert famous POC figure here* if you don’t alter your skin color or features to match theirs? I’m going to be honest here and say that if your Halloween costume is wholly reliant on skin color or specific ethnic physical features to be recognizable, chances are that you have a really terrible costume to begin with, overall.
People are recognizable by more than unchangeable physical features. Michael Jackson has his fedora and sequined glove, Beyoncé has her iconic leotards and unforgettable lyrics, and Hikaru Sulu has his Star Trek Enterprise uniform. Furthermore, if you were planning on dressing as one of these, or many other famous people of color for Halloween, it’s likely that you’ve put enough preparation into the costume that people will be able to recognize you immediately.
But what about all of the people of color dressing as cowboys, or other archetypal white characters, you’re probably wondering. This may come as a shock to you, but historically, white cowboys were not the only cowboys to have existed. People like Nat Love, Isom Dart, Bose Ikard and Bill Pickett were just some of the many black cowboys throughout history. Moreover, albeit stereotypically, even though Native Americans were the ones hunted by cowboys, they too existed as “wild west outlaws” long before white people even stepped foot on this continent.
While we’re on the topic, let me go ahead and say that, yes, although she has been made into a historically inaccurate Disney character, Pocahontas is still a racist Halloween costume idea. Disney wildly changed her story to gloss over the rape and genocide committed by white people against Native Americans. Subsequently, the portrayal of Pocahontas and her people in the movie through costumes is also stereotypical, generalized and yet another example of white people misinterpreting and misappropriating things that never have and never will belong to them.
Quite literally, a whole world of Halloween costumes exists out there just a simple Google search or creative idea away. If you are hell-bent on dressing as a famous POC icon or idol, do it tastefully and mindfully. Stay away from cultural artifacts and clothing, premade costumes like “sexy Harambe” or “sexy Bollywood princess,” and stay far away from skin-tone face paint and racially motivated costumes, puns and jokes.
If you’re not sure whether or not your costume is racist, insensitive or generally offensive, feel free to ask the opinion of your token “I’m-not-racist-I-have-a-POC-friend” friend. Your best bet, however, is just to pick something else. Worst-case scenario, you dress normally and show up as an ironic version of yourself.
