Yes, Your Halloween Costume is Racist

(photo from Party City's website; boycott as you see fit... this post isn't just about this image, though; it's about a long tradition of [generally white] people dressing up as cultural stereotypes.)

Here's the thing: I know you weren't TRYING to be racist.  I know that I'm not getting "what you were going for."  I know YOU think your costume is just "riffing on stereotypes" or only represents "one specific character, not an entire race."  But dressing up as a caricature of someone else's culture is still a stupid costume idea and you should have thought of something better.

And make no mistake, these costumes are offensive.  Even if you don't think they are.  Even if you're friend who really IS Native American is cool with it.  Even if I'm just being a big oversensitive PC baby.  Even if your counterarguments to all of this are well-reasoned, you're still on the "uncreative jackass" side of this debate.

And that's what this comes down to, in the end.  These costumes aren't just offensive, they're really boring too.  I mean, if you have one night to dress up like something--anything-- that you're not, and the best you could think of is "Jamaican guy" or "Mexican," that's pretty sad.

So this Halloween, forget the sombreros, feather headdresses, turbans, kimonos and (ugh) blackface makeup.  Be a robot instead.  Be a vampire.  Bake some muffins and be the goddamn muffin man.  Or just stay home and eat candy.  Isn't that what Halloween is all about anyway?

Read more over at Jezebel