天美传媒

A newly revitalized campaign led by OHIO鈥檚 Division of Diversity and Inclusion is working to educate students and encourage the campus community to think twice before wearing costumes that convey cultural appropriation during the Halloween season.

The 鈥淢y Culture is Not a Costume鈥� campaign aims to inform 天美传媒students on why they should be wary of appropriating a culture other than their own through a Halloween costume, and why certain costumes should be avoided altogether.

The campaign was originally created in 2011 by a University student organization called STARS (Students Teaching About Racism in Society). The student organization has since disbanded, and OHIO鈥檚 Division of Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with University Communications and Marketing, worked to breathe new life into the campaign and share its important message with a new generation of Bobcats.   

鈥淭his campaign is crucial in educating students on the harmful realities of cultural appropriation and creating honest conversations about the impact it can have,鈥� said Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion Duane Bruce. 鈥淎ppropriating another culture in any instance does not exhibit the expectations of respect across differences we expect from all Bobcats.鈥�

Cultural appropriation is an important topic around Halloween because certain costumes can be problematic when they are adopting another culture or identity. It is defined as 鈥渢he adoption, usually without acknowledgment, of cultural identity markers from subcultures or minority communities into mainstream culture by people with a relatively privileged status.鈥�

According to , some culturally inappropriate costume ideas include:

• Anything representing blackface, brownface or yellowface
• Costumes that represent harmful racial or ethnic stereotypes
• Making a mockery of mental illness
• Wearing hairstyles of people of color
• Transphobic or homophobic costumes

The campaign states, 鈥淭hough you may think you are harmlessly dressing up for one night, portraying such stereotypes may do harm and have longstanding impact.鈥� You can read more at this 天美传媒website.

"In many cultures, including mine, our clothes, hairstyles, and even the way we carry ourselves, are all a part of our cultural identity,鈥� said Diversity Leadership Ambassador Sheyenne Grainger. 鈥淭here is meaning behind that identity, and we have it all year round, not just around Halloween. It's not simply something we can try on and take off, so naturally, it's offensive when people that don't share that identity, nor truly appreciate our culture, take that one valuable element and imitate it. Respectfully, that's cultural appropriation.鈥�

Image

Photos produced by the student organization during the campaign鈥檚 development were reworked into digital, print and social media graphics by University Communications and Marketing鈥檚 digital designer Steven Hollis. Print materials have been distributed on-campus by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion鈥檚 Diversity Leadership Ambassadors, as well as shared to the division鈥檚 .

"It is important, specifically right now as Halloween is approaching, to raise awareness about cultural appropriation,鈥� said Diversity Leadership Ambassador Re鈥橝ija Grice. 鈥淢aking jokes about other's ideals and values or what makes them who they are is not comical, nor is it okay.鈥�