Halloween is a holiday that lets anyone be whoever or whatever they want without societal pressures or judgement. Many choose to dress as Latinos, Native Americans, African Americans and Asian Americans. From these people’s perspectives, it’s “all in good fun.”

However, there is a difference between respecting a culture and exploiting it.

Halloween is actually “Hollow-ween”: “hollow” means empty rationalization and “ween” means to think or suppose. Many people today look at others only through a “hollow” lens without thinking about others’ emotions. American culture has always focused on individualism. The aspect of delving into another’s world is uncharted territory and most people are too “busy” to care.

Minorities, on the other hand, absorb the American culture as their own and are proud of it while keeping their original cultural identity. This country often brings a much better opportunity than their own.

It would be difficult to say where we draw the line in disrespect and genuine interest in the culture we value. Despite this, I say we battle ignorance with acceptance. For us to draw a line is to create a border between minorities and everyone else. This is something that we have strived to overcome.

Speaking as a Latino, we have to realize the offensive behavior is not always intentional. Television and movies often depicts Latinos as thugs or criminals. This becomes a stereotype and those with other cultures misperceive who we really are.  The reality is that we all come from different backgrounds, and we have an array of stories and perspectives that matter. Tequila, serapes and sombreros do not mean “Mexicans like to drink and wear big hats.” These things signify the gathering of families and the creation of memories.

As a nation we have to erase the stereotypes ingrained in our psyche and see the dreams we all have. Latinos, to the root of their desperation, harness the beauty that America offers for a better life. They come shelled with anguish from what they endured coming here. Others never look beyond their exterior, not realizing there’s a seed of passion within. We are consistently imparted with negative stigmas. But we are set to tear down the fences of people’s minds and create a unification of humans.

Halloween shouldn’t be another excuse to justify degrading other cultures. Halloween is about sweets; bashing on a culture by wearing an offensive costume is definitely tasteless.