October 2021 Blog: “Tricks and Treats and Racism”
At Halloween, racial issues in the form of inappropriate costumes present themselves at the doors of many American homes. Some complain that “cancel culture” is ruining childhood fun, but children need to learn how to approach differences effectively. Let’s support common sense conversations that normalize racial sensitivity.
Children should learn why many indigenous people are hurt when their race is portrayed stereotypically by costumes which ignore historical oppression for a few laughs. Glory Ames, from the White Earth reservation, says she’s trying to guide, not shame, people into avoiding racist costumes. Young people can even learn to appreciate intersectionality by deconstructing the overlapping forms of oppression represented in advertisements for “Pow Wow Princess” and “Sexy Native American.” A recent campus campaign explained, “We’re a culture, not a costume. You think it’s harmless, but you’re not the target.”
At Halloween, Black Americans confront multiple issues, from the obscure to the obvious. Few people know, for example, that the Klan chose ghostly white hoods to add a frightening image to their terrorism. And fewer know that that the term “spook” was a racial insult in the 1940’s. While many of us may use the term without racial motivation, as NPR’s Code Switch counsels, think twice before using it. More obviously, if a child wants to dress up like a “gangster thug,” explain how such stereotypes are used to demonize young Black men.
As hard as it is to believe, we still have to explain why “blackface” is unacceptable. According to a 2019 Pew survey, about a third of Americans think it’s okay for a white person to use makeup to darken their skin as part of a Halloween costume. Explain to children that socially privileged groups should not adopt racial markers that they can discard after Halloween when Black people are often targets of hatred for their entire lives. Want to hang a skeleton from a tree on your front lawn? Don’t tie it around the neck. Such “decoration” evokes the ghosts of lynchings past.
More lessons can be made from conversations about who tricks-or-treats in your neighborhood. A decade ago, articles appeared discussing how class and race lines are crossed at Halloween. Parents sometimes drive their children to wealthier neighborhoods for better treats, elaborate decorations, and safety. If people complain about “kids from outside the neighborhood,” explain how systemic racism is a contributing cause. [Read Andrienne Gibbs on Zora as she explores this phenomenon.]
As children grow older, conversations can address how horror films are now being used to expose racial oppression and the violence that really scare Black Americans. As N’dea Yancey-Bragg explained in USA Today, the horror in works like Get Out and Lovecraft Country features “racism as the monster.” So, at Halloween, let’s be creative enough to have fun without obscuring or mocking the historical horror of racism.
Further actions:
1) Learn about how “the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation blurs over time.” As Sahar Nangoli points out, it can happen in a couple of decades, accelerated by historical events. Ever since 9/11 “Terrorist Costumes” abound. Not only do the over-simplified stereotypes interfere with cross-cultural communication and understanding, they dishonor those who died due to terrorism as well. (See Sahar Nangoli - Halloween is not an excuse to be racist)
2) When people complain that “cancel culture is taking away all our fun,” engage them in brainstorming creative ways to have fun with Halloween that is more inclusive and less insulting to marginalized people and groups.
3) When celebrities offend, like when Julianne Hough darkened her skin in trying to look like Uzo Aduba’s character “Crazy Eyes,” don’t just roll your eyes. Send them a message letting them know that it is offensive and that you want them to apologize. Such mistakes need not ruin careers if the apologies are sincere. Actions to heal the wounds are necessary.
4) When was the last time you read Good Housekeeping!? Share this article with friends and discuss the “15 Offensive Halloween Costumes That Shouldn't Exist: If you're the only one in on the joke, then it's probably not very funny,” by Sam Escobar, Marci Robin, and Lizz Schu Mer, Oct 6, 2021.