Appropriation vs. Appreciation: Halloween Edition
By Leslie Urena ('24)
The leaves are browning, everyone’s pulling up Jack O'Lantern tutorials, stores have designated candy aisles, and everything is pumpkin spice flavored. That’s right; it’s fall again! As we welcome the cool breeze after months of heat, almost everyone’s asking each other the age old question: What are you going to be for Halloween?
People are scrolling down to Party City and Spirit Halloween’s websites to look at the assortment of costumes listed. As we run our eyes among these rows of potential costumes, eyes fall on familiar sights. Pocahontas, Esméralda, Hawaiian and Egyptian costumes. These have all been seen and done before. Nothing new, nothing unfamiliar, but does this really cancel out some dark undertones of these costumes?
Many of these costumes are considered to be from different cultures. For example, a costume of Pocahontas includes attire that is inspired by traditional Native American clothing. Pocahontas is also widely known for being a Disney princess, and when kids dress up like her, it’s because they admire this character, and don’t have any ill intentions. The same can go for adults. In fact, this can actually be taken as cultural appreciation, rather than appropriation. Many people argue that these costumes are only worn for a day, nor are they meant to be taken seriously.
Some Halloween costumes, such as these three above, are argued to be offensive to ethnic cultures as they appear to mock their traditions and customs.
Photo courtesy of Teen Vogue
But if the costumes aren’t taken seriously, what about the character? Are they? Pocahontas was a real person, not just a singing princess. The Disney movie was inspired by a true story, and her attire was inspired by real clothing with true significance. For example, when people dress up in traditional Native American clothing for Halloween—clothing that holds sacred significance—and are merely using it as a costume, not for a sacred ceremony, it is offensive to the original native tribe. When a non-Indigenous person takes off this “costume”, it’s done; they’re done being their chosen character for the day, but Native Americans can’t do that. They have to continue living with the knowledge that this land we’re all on, used to be their land, and now many are mocked in their own territory. This is why many people would argue that dressing up as Pocahontas, or as a Native American in general, can be considered cultural appropriation.
It is suggested that if you’d like to appreciate Native Americans, or any other cultures, you should learn about issues they are facing and educate yourself on the rich history and culture of it all. For instance, learning about the plights of Indigenous people could be your first step. I believe that educating yourself is a step in the right direction for any topic or situation that arises in our day and age.