STARS Campaign poster. Photo courtesy of ohio.edu

While informing me of her costume choice for this  year, my friend told me she wanted to be a geisha.

For those that don’t know, a geisha is a historical figure for women of minority descent to some Asian cultures. My friend is a blonde Caucasian.

Upon revealing her costume choice to me, it made me question why and how she chose it. I am not arguing that costumes aren’t fun to wear and browse through around Halloween. But I am arguing that as racially stigmatized ethnic stereotypes become increasingly popular, it is time we re-think some of our Halloween costume choices.

Ohio University started a wonderful campaign a few years ago that brings this central issue to life. Their message is: As students with a variety of backgrounds and colors, we “are a culture, and not a costume.” This campaign forms from STARS, Ohio University’s club which stands for Students Teaching About Racism in Society.

Every year the club changed their campaign message which challenges their students to think twice before dressing up like a person of color or specific heritage that feeds into a stereotype.

The STARS campaign posters became popular online, feeding into a long debate over whether not it was even appropriate to paint ones face black. The fact is these posters bring to light some of the biggest issue our society faces. What is socially appropriate to wear in a costume? And if it’s Halloween what does one night do to damage these culture?

Ryan Lombardi, vice president of student affairs at Ohio University, reminds us as students why it is important to be careful of what we choose to wear and represent when he said “I think it’s a clean way of raising awareness of how the costumes you choose might be offensive. In many cases, students aren’t doing it maliciously, but they might not realize the consequences of their actions on others.”

Every year the STARS organization produces more postures that challenge racial stigmas and stereotypes. As outcries for change on other universities followed after Ohio University, I think it is time we do the same. There is a big difference between wearing a Batman or Hulk costume every year and treating an entire ethnicity as a costume.

I am not saying every Halloween costume is racist, or that choosing to wear something you want is bad. I am saying that  people are not caricatures for one’s pleasure. Wearing a costume that embodies a race or culture feeds the racial and cultural stereotypes.

A word of caution is to think about what you really want to be for Halloween. If you aren’t sure of where the stereotypes come from, then always read on about them.

There are underlying meanings to what we wear and what we choose. It’s imperative to remember that is simply not true. Further information about STARS can be found at https://www.ohio.edu/orgs/stars/Home.html. Past campaign posters are there, and other resources.  Let us be mindful this season about what or who our costumes might be portraying.

Amina Chinnell Mateen is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at aminakins101@gmail.com