For many people, Halloween is a time to look back and remember how much fun we had as children and reminisce on the costumes we wore throughout our childhood.

As we get older and reality becomes clearer, there are many things that our naive little eyes did not see before.
I’m sure many of you have seen the campaign: ” We’re a culture not a costume.” It’s a campaign about respecting cultures by not using their forms of dress as Halloween costumes.

I believe there are two different points of view on the matter. The first point of view is that this is a non issue. The second is that this is a very important issue, which I agree with. It can be embarrassing to see someone dressed in my culture’s attire. My culture hasn’t disappeared. I am right here. Stop marginalizing me and my culture.
I do not think there is a middle ground for this subject. It is wrong to wear costumes that represent a culture that does not belong to you. Halloween costumes are supposed to be funny, scary or sexy. If you’re wearing a costume that boils a whole culture down into a few stereotypical elements, that isn’t funny, scary or sexy. Wearing a culture’s clothing as a costume is disrespectful. People of other cultures are human beings too, and we should be respected as such. Don’t perpetuate the marginalization of people of color by wearing a stereotypical costume.

So, when you go out to buy a Halloween costume, ask yourself, “Am I choosing my costume at the expense of a culture’s dignity? Am I so far removed from my own culture that it doesn’t matter to me?” It’s not hard to make the right choice.