Showing posts with label costumes. Show all posts

For the love of all, PUT DOWN THE NATIVE HEADDRESS!


Literally all you have to do is google image search "native headdress" and up pops copious amounts of pictures of pale faced light haired people sporting their "inspired" hipster headdresses they bought for a mere 25 bucks at urban outfitters.

No matter how many times cultural appropriation articles blip across your screen, it doesn’t seem to matter in the slightest when October rolls around. The likelihood of being familiarized with this term in a liberal college classroom is very high, but incase you haven't let me give you a quick lesson.

If you need a definition on Cultural appropriation, click HERE, or HERE... or HERE.

It’s mostly associated with white people donning themselves in Native American "inspired" garb, and calling themselves Indians. No no no, you are not dressing up as an Indian, you are dressing up as a Native American... and it’s not OK.

So what’s the problem? Dr. Keene, as you may know my fondness for her if you read this blog, puts it quite well in a post she wrote titled "But Why Can’t I Wear a Hipster Headdress?" among many others.

To put it simply;
  • > Headdresses promote stereotyping of Native cultures.
  • > Headdresses, feathers, and warbonnets have deep spiritual significance.
  • > There is a history of genocide and colonialism involved that continues today.

Listen, from one caucasian to another, the problem is that when white people take the attributes of underrepresented, marginalized and oppressed people then use them for their own gain, it is continuously perpetuating the image of racism and superiority in America.

If your child wants to dress up as Pocahontas for Halloween, that’s a different story. Disney princesses are hard to debate with a 5-year-old. Perhaps use that time to educate your child on the history and culture of the Native American people, or whoever else your child wants to dress up as.

Use your best judgment and if you have to question it, don’t do it. Don't dress up as generic native americans for Halloween, don't proudly adorn yourself in some cheaply made knockoff head dress for your photoshoot, and please PLEASE PLEASEEE, stop calling yourself Native American because you think or were told your great great great grandmother was Cherokee (whom might I add aren't even indegenious to the area where we live)! If you want to argue about the fact that you are Native American, then take the initiative to get a DNA test and start tracking down your lineage so you can reunite and share the struggles of your people, don't only claim to be when it is convenient for you.

If you are still questioning what kind of message you (as a Caucasian) are sending in relation to cultural appropriation, see my article "We're a Culture, Not a Costume."

Until next time. - D💋

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We're a Culture, Not a Costume


As the days get shorter, the smell of bonfires looms, here in the Midwest there is a heavy chill in the air, leaves are changing color, and people are frantically acquiring pumpkin spice anything. Yes, Halloween is quickly approaching!

The older you get, the less you tend to enjoy the holidays but halloween just happens to include fun for the entire family. Though I cosplay (check out my first cosplay), I know I’m not the only one who loves the excuse to dress-up as an adult without anyone staring or mocking at least once a year. It’s fun to pretend to be someone, or something you aren't for a night, and costumes run a gamut as wide as the human imagination. With such a variety of humorous, frightening and even sexy ensembles to choose from, it’s disappointing to see that tired stereotypes, oblivious prejudice, and nonchalant racism still manages to find a way to the store shelves and in the hands of our friends and families.

Last year, Ohio University’s S*T*A*R*S (Students Teaching About Racism in Society) released the incredibly popular “We’re A Culture, Not A Costume” ad campaign showing ethnic minority students holding photos of people dressed up as stereotypes of their culture.



The best way to get rid of stereotypes and racism is to have discussions, raise awareness, and educate others on matters that the public school system will not. The most obvious stereotype is when someone dresses in blackface, because of it historical context, however the message applies to all races and stereotypes, and not just during Halloween. “Halloween as a holiday has a history of being focused on inversion of power,” says professor Susan Scafidi of Fordham University. She is the author of Who Owns Culture: Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law.

Let stop for just a minute to examine, what is cultural appropriation? The most simple definition of cultural appropriation is that it occurs when members of a dominant culture borrow from the cultures of minorities without their input. Typically those doing the exploiting, lack a contextual understanding of what makes the cultural symbols, art forms and modes of expression significant. Despite their ignorance of the ethnic groups from which they borrow, members of the majority culture frequently profit from the exploitation. If you need a better look at that blurred line, head over and read The Difference Between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation.

People dress up as plenty of powerful figures that don't get misconstrued and that is OK! But when you dress up as a culture that you are currently oppressing, or have subjugated in the past, you’re not inverting anything, you are just further “reinforcing current power structures in an offensive way.” We need to learn to treat people the way that they deserve, the way we want to be treated. If it’s something that [you] have the privilege to wear, where others would not, do not wear it. You should know when you go past the limit, but as we all know there are people in society who don’t know, don't see, or don't care about that limit. If we really begin to examine the subconscious thoughts of our peers and brought them to attention, maybe we can collectively start to stamp out these stereotypes that have been ingrained into american society.

If you are still questioning what kind of message you (as a Caucasian) are sending in relation to cultural appropriation, here is a list to help sum up what we went over:

  • > Don't wear blackface.... EVER. Point blank period. Never ever.
  • > Don't wear a native american headdress... If you were "native american" like many claim, you would know better. Headdresses are a sacred item, built from individual eagle feathers that are earned over time. And to see somebody who hasn’t earned that right adorning themselves as such, it’s completely disrespectful. Just like you don’t get to wear a medal of honor by being born American, you don’t get to wear a headdress even if you have Cherokee in you. Simple as that. If you need more reasons why -> just read But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress.

That leads into...

  • > Don’t adopt sacred artifacts as accessories.
  • > Don't sexualize minorities.
  • > Cite your cross-cultural influences publicly and often.
  • > Engage with other cultures on more than an aesthetic level.

If you have to question it, don't do it. If you absolutely must come out dressed as such, be prepared to talk about it. It’s easy to say it’s “just a costume,” and at the end of the night, you can take it off. But minorities cannot change who they are, and will continue having to live with the consequences of the subtle, casual hatred your costume spreads.

Until next time. - D💋

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