I was recently at a costume store checking out the toddler costumes for my 3-year-old. The thing that struck me was not only the prevalence of racist stereotypes, but the fact that the model on almost every package was white.

There was one single exception, where a black boy was the model. He was wearing the "Indian Warrior" costume.

There's no law that says that scary, funny, and fantastical are the only options. Your premise is flawed. Lots of people dress up as celebrities, or simply as something that they don't get to dress up as during the year (like "the 1970's," or a businessman, or a jazz musician, or a nerd, etc. I have personally dressed as Bill Murray several years in a row, with a costume from a different movie each year. Ghostbusters was fantastical, but Coffee & Cigarettes was not scary or fantastical, and I didn't really think it was funny. Mad Men costumes will probably be fairly popular this year. Which category do those fall in?

All that said, THESE costumes almost all seem to be offensive. The one exception would be the "rapsta" one, which seems to be dressing up as a segment of a fairly mainstream culture, not as a race.

However, I don't see that dressing as a historically accurate Native American would be any more offensive than a historically accurate Cockney, or whatever, unless you're going to get into the debate that depicting yourself as being of another race is racist no matter what. And that's a whole other thing.

For what it's worth, the last one is really cool. It reminds me of those costumes you can get for dogs that has arms coming out of their chests and uses their front paws as feet, so they end up looking like people.

Scapino--

dressing up as a celebrity and TV/Movie character is NOT the same as dressing up in an ethnic outfit and posing as someone of a different race (or religion, nationality, ethnicity, etc) and mocking us as a whole group. Therefore, your logic is flawed.

I do agree with you about the Rapsta costume, though. I don't find that racist or offensive, either.

I have to say, the font in the "Asian costumes" picture is just amazing. Especially the M.

Well, maybe I WANT to go as a racist person for Halloween. Ever think about that?

Wouldn't that be scary?

I too think it's interesting that most of the models appear to be white. Is this just because most models are white in general? It seems to me to really play up the racist nature of the costumes.

I do think it's problematic for a white person to dress up as a member of a group white people have historically oppressed. It seems to disregard a lot of pain. Also, these costumes are mostly using stereotyped clothing (that probably only a small subset of the group ever actually wore) that has been used for racist depictions.

As far as the Middle Eastern man, I have seen Arab men dressed similarly in my travels (though they mostly wear sandals) except that the robe needs to be ankle-length and the sword isn't made of plastic. I'm kidding - they don't carry swords, though I hear in Yemen it is customary to wear a sort of ceremonial knife. Also, in my experience men dressed like that have mostly been welcoming and smiling. That's neither here nor there. The costume is clearly meant to fall into the "scary" category, and that is not ok.

Lighten up.

Two words: "Greek toga"

For reference, geishas dressed like this. And besides, in Japanese culture only dead people wear their kimono right flap out like the model above. Which is kind of Halloween-y, but the kimono should have been white and the hair let loose to get the yuurei (ghost) look.

Halloween is meant to be fun and entertaining that is why these costumes are meant to be FUNNY. I'm so tired of people getting upset when humor uses racial stereotypes because a joke is not meant to be taken as somehow a serious representation. Lighten up the point is they're meant to be offensive to grab attention and to be humorous.

In complete agreement with you here, especially in regards to the compression of complex ethnic backgrounds into "fantastical" stereotypes.
I've heard from my Indian friends that mockery underlining Native American stereotypes is something they've experienced their entire lives.
A Native American friend told me that she's been told multiple times, to her face, that actual Native Americans don't actually exist any more.

Anyone who thinks that this "harmless" fun is completely without consequences to real people is obviously sporting a little unexamined privilege.

Those costumes are great but not good enough. Anyone know where I can find a "Goofy leftwinger who thinks Halloween costumes are racist" costume? I am determined to win the best costume contest at the office Halloween party this year.

Tighty Whitey seem to be for of a slam (racist towards) on African American youth (baggy pants, long tshirt, underwear 'hangin' out) then it is towards white people. Just wanted to make a note about that.

Tighty Whitey seem to be for of a slam (racist towards) on African American youth (baggy pants, long tshirt, underwear 'hangin' out) then it is towards white people. Just wanted to make a note about that.

I'd like to see someone try to wear one of the "Mexican Man" costumes in a town with a large hispanic population and retain the illusion that it isn't racist.

Some of these are rasict, but I am a little unsure of the Indian costumes. They seem like an opportunity for someone to experience wearing a somewhat cultural clothing in an non-insulting way. Halloween as a kid was an opportunity to be someone else for a day and it did not only mean super heroes or heroines.

If this is the premise, then Japanese people dressing up like American cowboys is racist? There has to be criteria to determine if a costume is racist - such as language or exaggeration of a part of the costume. Also, parody is legal, even if it is not okay with everyone.

<Most of these are pretty awful, and cross the line between just trying on something new and being insulting to the culture it comes from. To say nothing of how sexualized they are, which is a huge problem I have with Halloween in general these days.

The geisha one in particular makes me wince, partly because the "kimono" is tied the wrong way (the only time you ever tie it that way is when a person is dead) but that mistake is extremely common in western fashion.

While dressing up as a race is really troubling, I'm not sure I see a problem with all of the costumes above. If I wear a kimono, does that make me racist? Am I not allowed to wear traditional bellydancing costumes because I am not Egyptian/Turkish/Roma? If the Native American costumes above were based on ceremonial outfits instead of stereotypes, would that be okay? Dressing up as a parody of a race isn't ever right, but I think that there's nothing wrong with wanting to borrow the clothing of another culture one night a year. The last costume is genuinely offensive, and a lot of the costumes listed above are inaccurate, but I don't think wearing a sari because you think it's interesting/beautiful is racist. (It would, however, be racist if you went around talking in a funny accent or dropping stereotyped jokes.)

I was thinking of going to a Halloween party as poor white trash and my wife was going to go as my sister. But, we didn't want to go through the hassle of wearing whiteface, wigs, blacking out some of our teeth, chewing tobacco, dirtying our fingernails and clothes, walking around with a bottle of Mountain Dew, etc.

I believe that POC should start dressing up as stereotypical white people...especially the ones that many middle class white people want to distance themselves from...the ones they are often one generation or across the Thanksgiving table away from. It would be interesting to see what the reactions would be. Hey, it's the 21st century, we have a Black president and it's a post-racial America, right? So, let's have some fun and flip the script instead of bemoaning the ignorance of those who have always had priviledge but won't in another 50 years. Let's screw with their heads and use Halloween as the opportunity to portray them as we see them...just the way they have been doing to us for centuries. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!

If you zoom out of the bubble for a little bit, you find so many cultures around the world with rituals of creating strange, elaborate, and/or utterly garish costumes that they would find utterly inappropriate in any context other than the ritual. For Americans, Halloween is that ritual - a chance to indulge our tastelessness, laugh at our outlandish stereotypes, be uncharacteristically bawdy or provocative, and make utter fools out of ourselves with relative impunity.

With that in mind, it's pretty hard to see much of an argument for more culturally-sensitive costumes. If the "ethnic" drag were more historically accurate, would it be less offensive? If people chose to dress as "race-appropriate" stereotypes (i.e. a Hispanic person wearing the sombrero and poncho), would the costumes themselves still be racist?

And who is being ridiculed more - the wearer of a silly costume, or the entirety of the vaguely imagined ethnic group that the costume is tangentially associated with?

If you think these are bad (and I do, too), you should check out novelty costumes in Japan - eeyow, some add a whole new level of racism you wouldn't belive. Halloween is still mostly a holiday celebrated by foreigners, but it's gaining popularity. Then again, as in North America, racism isn't the point, it's just an unfortunate side effect of the frivolous fun that is dressing up in costume.

Last year a friend of mine and her boyfriend went as the Cafe de Colombia logo. He was the man, and she was the donkey. They did it because it was a cheap couple's costume, and they thought it looked cute. Frankly, the costume was adorable, and I'd equate it to dressing up as any other item or person from pop culture. It's recognizable, and it's funny.

However, at the party we went to, people kept occasionally murmuring or looking disparagingly at my friend's boyfriend, making comments about him being racist by portraying a Mexian stereotype. When my friend walked up and stood next to them, they got it, and they laughed.

I couldn't tell what was funnier, the look of relief on their faces when they realized that it was okay to enjoy the costume -- or the fact that these people were trying to protect themselves from anyone thinking they might be racist by thinking a stereotypical costume was funny, or that in their attempt to be PC they made themselves look even sillier in that they couldn't distinguish between a Colombian and a Mexican.

Also: some people can afford totally accurate, authentic Halloween costumes. Other people cannot afford to spend over 100 dollars for one night of the year, and those people usually realize that no one will really notice how authentic it is, anyway. This is because nobody really is THAT well educated about every foreign culture that appeals to us.

When I was eleven, all I wanted to be for Halloween was Pocahontas, for one reason only: I admired her for what I learned in school. She seemed great to me, and I wanted to be her for that one day I year I got to go out dressed as someone else. But my family was too poor to afford an elaborate, perfectly historically accurate construction of the dress. So my mother hand-made me a costume.

This costume turned out probably much like what this website would consider "offensive" and "stereotypical," but god damnit, it's what we had. My mother, being from Arkansas and not entirely educated in cultural anthropological terms, spent two weeks on this thing, buying all the materials and sewing them bit by bit from scratch out of leather and faux leather pieces we bought at a local scrap store. Does this make us racist, or more willing to go an extra mile to temporarily transform me into someone I thought was a worthy figure to represent?

I'll admit, that night as I went door to door dressed in some patchwork, inexpensive costume, people probably just looked at me and said, "Oh how cute, an Indian..." But whatever their perception, it had no effect on what my eleven year old mind perceived I had become.

My point in all this is that some people are simply NOT well educated about whatever it is that they want to be for Halloween, and often times portray themselves as ignorant and probably intentionally unaware. But it doesn't necessarily mean is that they are intentionally portraying themselves as racist. The costume in question is sometimes exactly what they can afford and exactly what they've been taught in public schools as being reasonably accurate.

Blame the educational system a person grew up in before blaming their choice in the costume.

I am not sure I agree with the premise being put forth here (and I say this as a Native American living in South Korea). What if an American dresses up as a ninja? Is that making fun of the Japanese? Does dressing up as a soldier make fun of veterans? I've seen Koreans at Halloween parties dressed as cowboys; I don't think they are being bigots for that. My Western friends here have gone as geisha and samurai; I don't think they were being racists.

That said, some costumes are clearly racist and discriminatory. I would, however, be uncomfortable saying that any costume depicting another race/nationality is automatically racist.

In the end, we're talking about what a chinese toymaker thinks an indian looks like to produce a $20 costume that will be worn for an aboslute maximum of 12 hours for 1 day in 1 child's life. Much as I enjoy the collective handwringing this site specialises in, this is not where the attentions of a person looking to achieve an end to racism, or sexism or whatever should be directed. As my mom says, 'Pick your battles'.

And I'd love to hear some suggestions for some non-offensive Halloween costumes, using the benchmark for offensive that this site tends to adopt (if it's offensive to ME, it's offensive to EVERYONE! :P ). So far I've come up with going trick or treating dressed as a cardboard box, but now i'm starting to scratch my head...

An interesting post about racist Halloween costumes..."Bamboozled: All Up in Your Black Face with Blackface" by Bryan Paul Thomas

Somehow my reply got stuck under someone else's comment as a part of that thread. It was meant to be a general comment, so I am reposting it here:

While I don’t disagree that some of these costumes are racist, I completely disagree with your premise. Very few of the costumes my kids wore over the years were scary, funny, or fantastical. Several that immediately pop to mind are football player, kitty cat, hockey player, ballerina, Clifford the Big Red Dog, astronaut, doctor, soldier. Your premise here is really, really flawed and without it, your arguments (as written) don’t track. The fact that, for example, an Indian costume isn’t scary, funny or fantastical is not a sufficient reason to cry foul.

This is not the quality of writing and thought I am used to finding here.

I am pretty sure the "Tighty Whitey" costume isn't making fun of white people, but rather the fact that their underwear is showing ("tighty whitey" is a name for underwear, at least where I'm from). So instead of them making fun of "white people," yet again they are making fun of how some POC youth dress.

Why don't you have Dracula costumes on here as well? Won't somebody think of the feelings of Romanians? "I vant to suck your bluhd." Nice, make fun of people's accents, REALLY classy.

Between how sexist and racist costumes are today maybe we should end the holiday. Should we prohibit animal costumes because they diminish animal rights. These comments are getting a little ridiculous. Should actors not wear costumes because they are not the correct race?

I am really impressed with the dialogue here. The post by itself was weak, but with the comments its interpretive, deep and thorough. makes me happy.

What about dressing up as witches? Won't that offend Wiccans?

Ya, Go social activists. Being from a reservation, I can tell you, Native Americans are more concerned about where there next meal is coming from and could care less about a stupid forking costume. Get off your social high horse, get the fork of your arse, get outside and actually do something about it.

Listen...I'm a Southern Italian whose family faced considerable discrimination for years. I have even faced it, sometimes in the most subtle of ways.

However, were someone to dress up as a representation of an Italian mobster, or an Italian mother, or whatever...well god damn let them have fun. If they're something other than Italian and they have an interest in my culture (and let's face it - mobsters and overbearing mothers do exist in Italian culture...)enough to want to dress up as it...I'm kinda flattered, actually. It's Halloween, for Christ's sakes....some people walk around in very disturbing costumes and no one says a word. Don't you think it's a little more troubling to have your 3 year old crying and screaming because of the guy dressed up as Pinhead than to see some adults dressed up as a Geisha or an Indian chief? If there is nothing negative meant by it, then IMO it's doing no harm.

If I were you I'd be more upset about some kids having their Halloween ruined by some of the scarier costumes out there.

Really, grow up and get over it.

You know, if you want to talk historical accuracy you might consider the holiday we know and cherish today in its modern incarnation is such a bastardization of Samhain/All Hallow's Eve, perhaps we oughta' be ashamed of even celebrating it, as we're essentially making a mockery of old Celtic beliefs.

I know when I was a kid I had made a sort of Traditional American Indian themed costume one year. Another year I made an Ancient Greek themed costume. To my kid mind, the two things were pretty much the same- a historical thing I'd been reading a lot about and wanted to play around with. I didn't see it as any commentary on people alive currently.

I think for adults things are a little different. But it could be as simple as just wanting to experience a historical period that's different- I can't see a Greek or Roman costume being offensive to modern Greeks or Italians, for example (maybe they are and I don't know.) I think that first costume is beautiful and seems respectful- I could be horribly wrong.

The other ones are just tacky, but they're tacky because the costumes are ugly and cheap and the ideas aren't particularly creative or funny.

I don't see dressing up as specific fictional or historical figures is necessarily bad. It's all in the execution. Are you conveying "wouldn't it be fun to be "Mr. X" or "Ms. Y" for a day, or are you making fun OF X's or Y's group?

I think of these costumes as cartoonish representations of mythical characters: the Geisha, the Indian Chief/Princess, etc....how's it any different than going on as Sleeping Beauty? They are "characters" in a way...

Guess Vikings are out too, since that might further negative stereotypes about Scandinavians. *eye roll*

About the 3 banners - I just noticed that the same model is on all 3 banners (twice on the middle one) but her expression is different on each banner (again, same expression where she's repeated) and I'd identify her expressions as "awaiting your communication" "strong and unemotional" and "ready to party."

Better late than never. Zorro was Spanish-American, not Mexican. It made a big difference, and, perhaps, still does.

This costumes are hilarious! The mexican dude with a mustache particularly makes me giggle every time I see him! The Helloween is over now, but for the next one, I will search for a costume like that. Thank you for spreading the word!

I used to think that talk was cheap but then I realized that time is money and every moment we spend adds to the value of our lives. I'd like to meet any one of you who are willing to spend their free time in these forums and have a meaningful conversation that isn't a snapshot of your full self. If these issues really plague you, why don't you make a new friend or hang out with and old one and debate the issue in full.

Talking in snippets is going to frustrate anyone, guys. Some of these issues bother people and tickle others, but they aren't black and white, they are grey tones. And I'm not making a pun.

hey

This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately, as a white person in the South. Not every costume involving another culture is racist. For instance, dressing as a Viking or a mobster doesn't push any "hey maybe this is racist" buttons for me... but seeing a bunch of folks dressed as Mexicans (as opposed to Latinos, not that the person wearing it knows the difference) or as "savages" is obviously racist. I'm trying to figure out what the line is... (I'm gonna blame my whiteness for my need to figure out the exact measurable limits!!)

It's NOT "Never wear clothing/jewelry of another culture." (see Viking example) I'm leaning towards these:
- It's not ok to dress like a culture that is traditionally marginalized (if not genocided). And double that if the oppression is/was carried out by one's own culture.
- It's not ok to dress specifically as a stereotype of people of color. eg, a "Mexican man"
...
but after that it gets fuzzy... Racism, like sexism and other isms, is very contextual (see the Village People example above)...
I think the issues involved are:
- race/ethnicity obviously
- class
- power differential between one's own race/class/etc and that of the other culture
- knowledge of and respect for the complexities of other cultures
- historical relationship between your culture and the other culture
... among others.

For instance, is it okay for a white person to dress as Frida Kahlo? My take would be that it's contextual. If the intention is to demean Frida, like a huge monobrow and "slutty" outfit, obviously no.

But if you're attending a party whose dress code is costumes of famous historical people, and the costume is thoughtful and respectful... I lean towards yes... I think there are costumes that are an homage, dressing as someone you really admire, that would be ok... I think the line there could be something like this:

- it's sometimes ok to dress as a specific person of another culture, depending on context.

Another example would be some white acquaintances who spend a lot of time in Latin America, dressing as Brazilian soccer fans and yelling GOOOOOAAAALL... this costume struck me more as a "current topic" (Brazil was in the World Series or whatever at the time) costume, more about the soccer than the "Brazilian". And they didn't apply stereotypical "latin" makeup or anything, the only way you knew they were dressed as Brazilians specifically was the flag they were carrying...

in this case it seems to me the costume was more along the lines of dressing as a Tea Party person -- a media saturated topic -- than racial or cultural stereotyping...

I'm just trying to think this out, and NOT intending to start a flame war. I apologize if I'm being an insensitive bull in a china closet -- I'm really interested in learning/understanding more.

In reading all of the previous comments, it is interesting to note that no one mentioned that "All Hallows Eve" was originally a Celtic festival (pre-christian). It was held on the evening before their New Year's day (Nov. 1st). It was considered a sacred event in which the living interacted with the spirits of the dead in order to help them into the otherworld. At that time some of the living would dress as ghosts, or otherworldly beings.

When this holiday was co-opted by Pope Gregory (601AD) it was an attempt to match christian holidays with the existant holidays in order to make "conversion" an easier task. So, it seems that the first occurrence of racial/cultural insult was when the christians interferred!!! It has continued to devolve into an annual masquerade party with no particular purpose.

I do not think that people are trying to be racist or insensitive, just as sheep in a herd do not "purposely" step on and run into each other. It is just the nature of a herding "animal" (which most humans are).

As for me, if I attend an event I go as a quick-tempered, militant, impish, red-headed Celtic IRISH person. That is my heritage!

I'm not sure I understand. I'm from Sweden and if someone dressed up in poorly imitated traditional clothes of my country (ex. as a viking), but didn't know anything about the culture, I wouldn't mind. And I doubt anyone would call it racist. Is that it? If people with the imitated culture gets insulted it's not ok and if they don't it is? And cultures with a history of having to put up with alot of racism have more right to get insulted? I think that sounds reasonable. Is that how you mean it?

I also want to ask about something more. Since I wouldn't mind the costume I don't really understand what part of the "dressing up as another culture" that is hurting to people. I don't question that it is, I just want to understand.
Would I be insulting anyone if I dressed up as John Coltrane?
Would it be different if I painted myself black?
Would it be ok if I, before I dressed up as another culture, studied about it?
Like what's the feeling? Is it feeling misunderstood? Or I don't know, but I would like to hear your answers!

Regards! /Hanna

lets not have halloween anymore. lets all make it mandatory to screw each other and mix up the races then you'll have to find some other b.s. to complain about. learn to laugh at yourself and others.the world will be a better place.

Where is there a rule that Halloween is supposed to be about dressing up as imaginary things? How about all the people who have worn president masks? I remember them as far back as Reagan, but they may have been much further back than that.

I saw a woman dressed as an athlete because "nothing could be further from the truth." So, while some of these costumes may be offensive, I cannot abide by the premise that anyone dressing/portraying something real is inherently bizarre.

Shall we ask where the priest and nun costumes are? Or, aren't they offensive as well? They wouldn't be to me, but I'm sure they would be to someone.

Let's think on this one some more, shall we? The logic must follow all the way through if it is good logic.

I think it really boils down to this: It's most assuredly NOT ok to dress up as another race if you're a member of the race who has subjugated, enslaved, impoverished, and/or committed/continues to commit atrocities against that race. I.E. white people have no place dressing up as Native Americans. White people took everything they could take from the Native Americans, now they want to take their identities and use them as cheap amusement, and the fact that so few see anything wrong with this is downright disheartening.

It was racist of Dr. Wade to include the "Rapsta" costume as a racist costume. Since when is "rapper" a direct reference to any one race? Rap is a genre of music produced and enjoyed by many races. A similar statement could be said about rock music. But if spirit had a "Rock Star" costume (which I'm sure they do), I sincerely doubt it would be considered a racist costume.

political correctness=anti 1st amendment. have fun. be whoever u want to be even if you're white.

Where does one draw the line? I am Jewish, so would it be offensive of me to dress up as a Hasidic Jew (which I most definitely am not)? How about if I were to go as an Anti-Semitic Stereotype complete with giant papier-mache hooked-nose and bucket of gold coins?

Hey hm & Goodlum etc...

People jeezus!! The point is not to MAKE A RULE FOR ALL TIME!! We are certainly not in the position of legislating anything on anyone!

The point is to stimulate discussion and thought and analysis. Stop trying to shut us up by telling us to 'just get over it and have a sense of humor!' That's the same bullshit that's been said to ANYONE who questions a political stance.

Instead, how bout actually PARTICIPATING in the discussion? huh?
Or are you saying that there's no such thing as a racist costume?

Also, I think we ALL acknowledge already -- no need to say it ONE MORE TIME! -- that one person's "offensive" is another person's "funny"... duh. That's actually the starting point of this conversation... Okay?

And Goodlum, I think you're confusing "acknowledging race" with "racism". How is it racist for me as a white person to -- considering history culture and economy -- decide that dressing as a stereotypical "black" person is racist? Are you implying it's NOT racist to dress as "mammy" for instance?

Is there ANYTHING you would consider racist?

I honestly think there is more to life to worry about. Party costumes are meant for fun and fun only. I feel if I were Mexican etc and went to a party where people were dressed as Mexicans, that I would take that as a compliment, after all a racist would not want to be a mirror image of the people they hate surely?

Interesting topic...I can see the writer's point of view. But I am not sure if you can apply racism to ALL costumes pertaining to a "race or "culture". I think halloween is also a moment to express creativity and toy with the idea that you are in "make believe" world for that day...Example "Pocahontas" is a character....I don't think a white child/woman dressed as a American Indian "character" is racist. Respect is key when doing costumes pertaining to cultures- keeping it tasteful and not infringing others. People have different reasons for choosing certain costumes..some may find it sexy...funny etc...Let's take for instance "Neytiri" from the movie AVATAR (the story line from this movie is a clear representation of American Indians) is it racist to dress as Neytiri for halloween?

Most little boys like to associate with powerful men in their costumes, it wouldnt be far-fetched or uncommon for a child to want to be an American Indian Warrior or even a sultan.....At the end of the day- it's the INTENT the person has in regards to their costume that determines whether they are being racist or not. 

That's weird that you think it is "stereotyping". 

I live in a city with LOTS of Mexicans and Indians (from India).

They actually dress and look like that.  I guess they are "stereotyping" themselves.

um.... who cares? 

I agree with Novakaine007.... Intent and respect are key. Many, many people - children and adults - aren't aiming for scary, funny, or fantastical. They enjoy Halloween costumes as an opportunity to play make-believe - to live out, for one night, a small bit of fantasy. (Why else does an older woman dress up as a Catholic school girl? Why else are movie stars, and the characters they've played, so popular as costumes? Ditto on the costumes of esteemed professions...) I, myself, am fascinated by other cultures - present-day, ancient, and everything in-between. For this reason, I have dressed up as a traditional Native American, Ivoirian woman, Indian woman, Latina TV personality, and Eqyptian pharoess. Not all of my costumes were perfectly historically or culturally accurate (though I did try on my near-zero budget!). Twice I used Halloween as an opportunity to wear beautiful African dresses I had been given as gifts. If not for Halloween, when else can an adult don the garb of a culture not his/her own and enjoy a night of fantasy without being poked fun at?

who cares

I personally think people should just calm down. They aren't implying that all people within a culture were like that. It's just a costume. I went as a ninja three years in a row. Did I think to myself, "Oh, all Asians must be ninjas"? No. I thought, "Wow, this costume will be cute, let's buy it." No need to read into it. Most people just like the costume and aren't even attempting to represent a whole culture with the pieces of cheap fabric they wear for three hours once a year.

I think you need to grow up and not be so overly sensitive. I'm white and Catholic, and both groups are routinely made fun and trashed in the press. Grow a fucking dick and some balls and deal with it you pussy. You fucking twit.

As a POC let me say that I don't entirely understand the popularity of costume activism.  

As I wrote in a recent blog:  http://alexfelipe.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/thats-racist-but-not-how-you-might-think/*     *     *"The analysis about the costume racism is the easy part. The hard part comes in the question of why we focus on the symbolized over the symbol?

I’m sad to say, I think it’s because we middle-class Western people of colour more or less like it this way.Fighting the big fight against the status quo, against the socio-political-economic system we live in, against imperialism, threatens our own way of life. ...But to do anything about it means risking a loss of our own cherished position in the middle. We are second class citizens, but we aren’t at the bottom and we hold out hope that we can be one of the few allowed to rise up and join the elites up top."

Well I'm sorry for dressing up like a geisha for holloween I dident do it to be racist or stereotype them i did it because I love the Japanese culture and I knew the costume wasn't culturally correct but I had fun and that's all it is and should be I'm part Native American and none of the costumes shown offended me some of them were kind of funny racism will never go away and talking about it even in this context simply makes it worse i understand what was attempted here but please stop putting so much on race because when it really comes down to it everyone is the same we all bleed we all hurt and love and laugh and cry and most people don't care when it comes to someone wearing a silly costume I mean I don't ^_^

Am I allowed to be outraged if people dress up as gangsters? This is offensive to my Italian culture. That's racist, right?

In my opinion, Halloween is about being something you're not. Dressing up and having fun. As long as you're not making an ass of yourself I don't see anything wrong with dressing up as another race. When I was a little girl I wanted to dress up like Pocahontas because I thought she was pretty. I think people are too concerned about being politically correct and offending people, and as long as you're dressing up for fun and not specifically to be racist then it doesn't matter who or what you dress up as.

I don't see how a halloween costume can be racist. Halloween is a chance to dress up as something that you never dress up like or have always wanted to be. Like when a little girl dresses up as a princess, it's not making fun of princesses? I think everyone should just grow up and accept the fact that it's a halloween costume.

I'm dressing in black-face this year! If ppl say "that's offensive", i'll say, "i know, i'm going as a racist for Halloween! Sweet costume, huh?" ...and Lisa Wade won't need a costume, cuz she's already a fun-sucking vampire c*nt.

i think tighty whitey refers to the colour of the underwear

This is satire, right?