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Staying in your lane this Halloween

Dressing up and decorating for Halloween has no age limit. Almost everyone enjoys the thrill of getting a costume, whether it’s super detailed or created at the last minute. 

However, there is a fine line between having a fun costume and being offensive or culturally insensitive. 

For instance, dressing up as a Native American or any Indigenous figure when it is not a culture you identify with is highly controversial and may be seen as distasteful, to say the least. This also includes other costumes such as kimonos, snake charmers and more, as it can come off like a mockery when put on for the same holiday people dress up like skeletons and zombies for.

Additionally, costumes depicting “gangsters,” “thugs” or “pimps” are not acceptable. These are all titles that are heavily associated with negative stereotypes surrounding Black men. Although any demographic dressing up as these figures is problematic, non-POC doing it is even worse because they would be trying on a stereotype without having to deal with any of the real-life repercussions that Black men face while simply existing. 

Even some Disney costumes can be inappropriate. For example, Moana is a Polynesian character that many young girls look up to; however, dressing up as a figure representing someone’s culture is something that people should steer away from, especially if it resembles traditional clothing worn by individuals known for having darker skin.

Similarly, certain decorations should be considered carefully before being displayed. An example is the traditional Day of the Dead sugar skulls. While skulls are seen as spooky decor, sugar skulls are specific to Mexican culture and the celebration of their loved ones. 

While Halloween is a great time to explore different costumes and decorations, it’s important to remember that the background and culture behind them matter. The holiday is supposed to be a fun time, but it cannot be one if you’re making other people uncomfortable. 

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