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Sparkle (4)
Halloween is right around the corner (!), and it’s time for the cute little kiddies to put on their cute little piglet, bumblebee and witchy-poo costumes and go door to door with family and friends for that age old tradition of Trick-or-Treat. Fa la la.
I absolutely love it when they come to my front door. All of the costumes are always so cute! You can tell how seriously some of the parents take the costumes too. And while some parents will grab a sheet, cut out a few holes for eyes and a place to breathe for a simple ghost ensemble, other parents will have gone all out, spending hours, days and even months (!) sewing and creating original costumes that are sure to delight even the most cynical of holiday bah-humbuggers .... um ... or maybe not.
Have you seen the child (!) dressed up like an Arab suicide bomber?
What about the baby boy dressed like Adolph Hitler?
The parents of these children are each playing up stereotypes while being overtly and without question insensitive ... and with their own children no less. My guess is that they think it’s funny. I just think it’s ridiculous. In a nutshell, they are being culturally inappropriate at the expense of their impressionable children. And as a blogger that celebrates the glory of culture on my blog day in and day out and as the owner of a travel camp program that empowers kids with cultural appreciation, it is my belief that costumes that are culturally inappropriate (including the people who wear them) should be called out and blasted on across the Web. After all, they’ve put themselves out there, right? And if they can’t stand the heat, then get rid of the costume. I swear. There really oughta be a law. SMH.
But Halloween, as you know, is not just a holiday for kids. Adults too will don their own cute little bumblebee and witchy poo costumes ... um ... or maybe not. Without even tapping into all of the overtly and overly sexualized Halloween costumes on the market, here’s a look at some of the culturally inappropriate costumes that are (unfortunately) certain to pop up this Halloween and, in my opinion, should be taken off the market entirely. Forgive me for this, but I’m about to put the scary in Halloween.
The Ku Klux Klan
This Ku Klux Klan Halloween photo is one I found on SandraRose.com. There are plenty more that are more recent, but this one simply takes the cake. Seriously. Is this funny or am I missing something? And someone smack the chick in the middle for me, please.
Native American Indians
If you have ever been to a real live pow-wow (and I have), you would know that it is disrespectful to dress up as a Native American in attire that isn’t authentic. And don’t get me started on how skimpy the costume is. Great skirt length for a nightclub, but not if you're really trying to accurately represent America's indigenous peoples. Totally un-cool.
The Illegal Alien
I just want to slap whoever thought of this. Really hard, too.
The Mexican Bandito
Even Frito-Lay (finally) put an end to their Frito Bandito campaign. Thinking we should too. I’m just sayin’.
The "Ghetto Fab" Wig
Lordy, lordy, lordy. California Costume Collections, Inc. has lost its mind and came out with a “Ghetto Fab” wig for Halloween that is nothing more than an afro wig. Hmmm ... not so sure what’s ghetto about an afro. And just when everyone else in the world with an afro is singing about how much they love their hair. And I’m not even that sensitive, either. Jeez.
Lovely (?) Lolita
Hmmm. Another gem from California Costume Collections. They call this costume Lovely Lolita (not to be mistaken with the Japanese Lolita fashion craze that depicts fashion from the Victorian era). Maybe I'm missing something? Is she supposed to be Japanese? I have an authentic Japanese kimono that doesn't look anything like this. Grrrrrr.
The Whole Black Face Thing
This Dallas Cowboys cheerleader (who is not African-American) is dressed up as Lil' Wayne, an African-American rapper. She couldn’t think of anything else to be for Halloween? Just Don't. Do. Blackface. It’s irritating and, again, disrespectful. (And I'm not even a
