2/9/2024 0 Comments Is my costume racist checklist![]() ![]() Our history does not fit inside a plastic bag on a shelf. You are not honoring diverse Native cultures by adorning yourself with a costume sold to the masses depicting the false ways we are seen. This starts by not dressing up, and not supporting or allowing Indian costumes within your space. It is time to change the dominant stories and create our own narratives and shift the face of public opinion. The goal is to move hearts and minds toward greater respect, inclusion, and social justice for Native Americans. They are held by mostly non-Native people, coming from a place of ignorance and blatant disregard, and oftentimes racism and oppression.įirst Nations’ Reclaiming Native Truth is a national effort to foster cultural, social, and policy change by empowering Native Americans to counter discrimination, invisibility, and the dominant narratives that limit Native opportunity and access to justice, health and self-determination. They are not ours, nor created or told by us. These untrue narratives make us invisible or reduce us to stereotypes. Alert attendees that those arriving in harmful or offensive costumes will not be permitted to attend the event. Too many people in the United States hold false stories and beliefs about Native Americans in their hearts and minds. We as a society are still accepting this mockery. This is the situation with Indian costumes. These narratives reinforce stereotypes and allow oppressive systems and norms to stay in place. These stories are passed along by family and friends, by the news media, entertainment and pop culture, education and public art, and policies, and much more. One of the points that came out of this research was about narratives – the broadly accepted stories that reinforce ideas, norms, issues, and expectations in society. In 2016, First Nations conducted unprecedented research to increase our understanding of the dominant narrative about Native peoples in the United States called Reclaiming Native Truth. Accepting the use of Indian costumes perpetuates a misrepresentation of Indigenous cultures and dehumanization of Indigenous peoples, creating psychological trauma that manifests in depression and shame – especially among our Native youth.Īccepting costumes means accepting the status quo Native men are characterized with big headdresses and loincloths, and Native women are put in scant, faux leather-fringed dresses, adorned with small headbands and feathers. Our society is much too comfortable mocking and sexualizing Indigenous peoples. This tells us a lot about the value assigned to Native Americans in this country, and how we still have a long way to go to universal cultural respect. While in many ways the nation is beginning to recognize that practices like blackface are indeed offensive and wrong, there are others who cannot grasp how dressing up like an Indian princess, warrior, queen, or chief is similar and just as bad. Wearing of these costumes is a sign of the overall acceptance of cultural appropriation and bastardization of Native cultures. This blatant disregard for Indigenous peoples and their (very different) cultures is disrespectful and offensive. Systemic racism comes in many forms, and one way it is popularly seen is in undignified, mass-produced Halloween Indian costumes. Environmental Justice and Indian Country.Strengthening Tribal & Community Institutions. ![]() Advancing Household & Community Asset-Building Strategies.and the kids are so eager to make the right choice, once you sort of show them the problems that exist. "What's wonderful about children is once you help them see those things they don't ever want to create that situation. Unfortunately, Halloween becomes a showcase of Americans’ systemic racism, as displayed through ill-conceived racially fraught costume choices. "So having those conversations ahead of time allowed kids to see why somebody else's struggle shouldn't make up someone's Halloween costume," she said. In class, they have lessons on identity throughout the year and all the parts of ourselves that go into identity. Students are often unaware of the long history these traditions have of causing harm and need our help in understanding why it can be hurtful and problematic." "While students might choose to dress as a famous person or character whose identity is different than their own, please reinforce the importance of not darkening skin or using makeup to change a child's skin color to match the person who they are dressing up to be. "Costumes should not become opportunities to turn a person's identity into a stereotyped image," the letter said. I will also be going over it with my students so that we can learn together how to do better: - Jess Lifshitz October 20, 2019 In order to try to avoid any problematic/racist Halloween costumes during our school celebration, I will be sending this letter home to families and caretakers. ![]()
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