“A lot of historical figures are linked to problematic words or actions, and should not be impersonated.”
What can you dress up as on Halloween? Nothing, it’s offensive and shame on you for asking.
Is it OK for white kids to dress up like ‘Encanto’ characters? Experts discuss cultural appropriation – Today Show
Is it okay for Asian kids to dress up like ‘Encanto’ characters?
Examples of cultural appropriation: kids’ Halloween costumes that are described as “Mexican” (or “Cinco de Mayo”) that come with sombreros and ponchos, “Arab” with keffiyehs and robes or “Native American Princess” with feathered headdresses.
One question Varner suggests you ask your child: “How do the power of stereotypes play into your costume?”
That may sounds a little heavy for a Halloween discussion, but Varner says kids as young as 5 are totally capable of having this conversation.
Yes, you should ask 5-year-olds about cultural appropriation and then ask them which gender they are.
The Independent offers a list “10 problematic Halloween costumes you shouldn’t wear this year” including…
The Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars slap
Please don’t go to any Halloween parties as anything related to the infamous Oscars slap. Hasn’t there been enough discourse already? Don’t be the one to reignite the debate, especially if you are a white person.
Especially if you’re a white person.
It’s easy for anyone to put on a mask, purchase a fake syringe or medical gloves and call themselves “Monkeypox” for Halloween. But doing so would make light of the monkeypox virus, of which there have been nearly 57,000 confirmed cases across the world in 2022 so far.
Also, fat suits are a hate crime.
Body-shaming is never okay, especially when it’s a Halloween costume. Not only does wearing a fat suit for Halloween display a total lack of creativity, it shows that you believe being plus-size is a joke. It’s not. Plus-size people can’t dress up as a “thin person” for Halloween, so recognise your thin privilege.
Vogue warns against homeless costumes.
Dressing up as a homeless person is never OK: There is no fun in having no work, no food, or a warm home to go to. So think twice before you decide to dress up as someone who is living on the streets or in refugee camps to a party. These people are more than often in dangerous conditions with complex or traumatic backstories
Or prison outfits.
Dressing up as a criminal is inherently a ‘no-go’, as it can make a mockery of many wrongly imprisoned people, or general prison rehabilitation efforts. Try to stay away from those bright oranges and stripes hanging in your closet.
Or historical figures.
Do your research: A lot of historical figures are linked to problematic words or actions, and should not be impersonated as a party novelty.
And finally,
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Then what can I dress as?”: you’re part of the problem.
GreekEmpress says
https://twitter.com/billmaher/status/1586221459491368960?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Advance warning: there is some profanity in this,
but it’s Halloween, ouzo time, and I thought he nailed it—
gravenimage says
Very funny, GreekEmpress! Bill Maher is spot on here.
mg says
I had more kids come to my door this year and that was good to see. They’re so polite… I did see some wonderfully incorrect costumes which of course is the point of halloween- and nobody seemed to know that it was wrong- some fat suit costumes, some killers, Dahmer, princesses, skeletons, and a host of kids who just wanted a dammed fine sugar high for free. And yes…..there were a couple of hobo costumed kids. Apparently some sanity still exists and their parents aren’t joined at the hip with can and msLsd.
Hope springs eternal, it’s getting dark and the teenagers will likely finish up the feeding frenzy. Maybe I’ll get lucky and someone will come by in a hoody, blackface and dressed up as George Floyd. That would be a fine way to finish up this Halloween.
gravenimage says
🙂
Mark Spahn says
“Not only does wearing a fat suit for Halloween display a total lack of creativity, it shows that you believe being plus-size is a joke.”
Wear a fat suit and go as a suicide bomber, packing on your body more explosives than any other jihadi.
(Why hasn’t this been done in real life? Are real jihadis so uncreative?)
Scotsman48 says
I wanted to dress up as Saint George Floyd, complete with Wings and a plastic knee on my neck while popping pills by the handfull but I was told that aint too cool as Im just exercising my white privilege and some folks may get uptight around it so I decided on going as Al Sharpton when he was obese with the gawd awful clothing, and big hair, though the mouth will be the same size…
Do I need permission to act like a black jackass?… Asking for a friend…
Walter Sieruk says
Since the holiday of Halloween has been brought up , it should then be remembered that five years ago there that the deadly incdent created a jihadist in Halloween. in New York City,
For that violent jihadist /Muslim, Sayfullo Saipov, whose first name means “The Sword of Allah” who murdered eight people and injured twelve other people in New York City was following the instruction of the “holy book” of Islam, the Quran. For example, the Quran instructs in 9:123 . “Do you who believe ! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you and let them find harshness in you…” Maiming and murdering people who are non-Muslim in a jihad truck attack as the jihadist did is a very effective way show non-Muslims “Harshness.” Strange teachings for what some call a “peaceful religion.” Likewise, the Quran teaches in 47:4 “When you encounter the disbeliever’s strike off their heads until you make a great slaughter among them…”A truck jihad attack can, for sure, make a greater “slaughter among them than a sword can.” As the Quran also instructs in 2:191. “Kill the disbeliever wherever we find them.”
All the while that jihadist was committing mass murder he was yelling out “Allah Akbar’ meaning “Allah is great” Islam is a false dangerous and deadly religion.
gravenimage says
Then there was also the pious Muslim attacking someone in a “zombie Muhammad” costume, and the Muslim judge who thought that was just fine:
“Sharia in Pennsylvania: Muslim admits to attacking atheist over “Zombie Muhammad”; Muslim judge dismisses case, tells atheist he’d be killed in Muslim lands”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/02/sharia-in-pennsylvania-muslim-admits-to-attacking-atheist-over-zombie-muhammad-muslim-judge-dismisse
I can’t recall anyone ever attacking someone over a “zombie Jesus” costume.
Walter Sieruk says
About Halloween. It’s the specific day of the year when some people might think of the non-entity of folklore which is the vampire. This fiction of myth is about a demonically raised blood drinking animated corpse. This monster is dangerous and deadly. Of course, such a creature doesn’t exist.
By contrast what or to be more accurate who really does exit is a totally different kind of monster who is the violent jihad-minded Muslim who in not a creature of folklore but a real person who might be demonically inspired person who because of his or her firm but blind and unquestioning faith in the false religion of Islam with its false doctrine the Koranic based violent jihad of violence and killing for the advancement of Islam .As the Qu ‘ran instructs in, for example in Sura 2:191. 5:33. 9:5, 111,123. 47:4. A person such as this is a real live “monster” who is definitely dangerous and deadly.
So, we need not fear monsters of folklore as vampires. Nevertheless, we should not fear but be on guard and have vigilance regarding the fiendish and scheming jihadists with their insidious and heinous violent and murderous militant jihadists in their deluded and irrational Islamic quest against Christianity, Judaism and Western civilization.
Dano50 says
Is black face with beard and Cuban army fatigues to be, “Canadian Prime Minister Justin Castro” okay?
gravenimage says
What can you dress up as on Halloween? Nothing, it’s offensive and shame on you for asking
…………………………………………..
That’s pretty much where we are right now. Remember when Halloween was actually fun?
More:
One question Varner suggests you ask your child: “How do the power of stereotypes play into your costume?”
…………………………………………..
Yeah, ask that right after “what do you want to be for Halloween?” That’ll throw cold water on any fun the little tykes might have…
More:
And finally,
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Then what can I dress as?”: you’re part of the problem.
…………………………………………..
Just as I thought…
somehistory says
“The Dallas Cowboys’ Owner May Be Fined for His Halloween Costume. Was It Demeaning?”
“Cowboys owner Jerry Jones with the epic troll Halloween costume. A blind ref.
Hope @nfl has a sense of humor pic.twitter.com/WkZyjmDj1J
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 30, 2022”
gravenimage says
*Good grief*. The “blind ref” thing is not about people with sight impairment, but about how referees are often bad at calls.
Thanks for that link, Somehistory.