Dear Etsy: Native Americans are not Halloween costumes
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Original Post
A few hours ago on the front page of Etsy, I was disturbed to see an image of a Halloween costume for a child that featured a headband complete with matching yard "braids." The kid was cute - but the fact remains that "dressing up" as Native Americans, who remain a living people with deep-held traditions, is not appropriate. The same is true for many ethnic costumes - "Mexican Man," for instance, or "Geisha girl."
I am not Native American - but my students are. I know that every time someone decides to dress up as an Indian chief, or princess, or brave, or, heaven forbid, squaw, it is an insult to them and their heritage.
It's easy to think minorities are just being hypersensitive - particularly if you belong to the group in power. But listen to the words of this Navajo blogger on the subject of Native American costuming: whebrhotub.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-identity-is-not-costume-for-you-...
Please, Etsy - and sellers - pay attention to these issues.
Posted at 8:18pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
Responses
amamabear, while we are on the subject, here is another blog I found on racist Halloween costumes, which has some great examples: thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/10/29/racist-halloween-costumes/
Posted at 8:23pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
I never thought of it that way. I have Cherokee in me and we dressed as Indians and cowboys as kids
It was always my favorite costume..but then I was a kid and didn't think of it as a bad thing
Posted at 8:26pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
I am a Native American and I don't find it offensive. People also dress up as Cowboys. (Cowboys are still alive and enjoying their culture) If the kid in the costume had been wearing a Tshirt that said "Stupid Injun" I would be offended, but a costume remembering a way of life and people who are much diminished, yeah I'm ok with that.
Posted at 8:26pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
silverWARES, we all did. I was 45 years old before I learned to even THINK about racism in this way - and it took a job change and working at a tribal college to take the blinders from my eyes.
Posted at 8:27pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
Sabtisdesigns, with all due respect, "cowboy" is a job, and "Indian" is a culture...
Posted at 8:29pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
There are a lot of people who are offended by it and Etsy should know that.
Posted at 8:30pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT
BigSkyArtworks....I also think it is the mindset of the person IN the costume.One can MAKE it offensive or not..
OK..can I ask you if you were to see a Native American child dressed up as a Indian for Halloween would THAT be different?
Posted at 8:31pm Oct 25, 2010 EDT