World TraditionsNo. 4327 · The 2026 edition
Cultural Appropriation, A Perennial Issue On Halloween
Is your costume respectful? Avoid cultural appropriation this Halloween.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at npr.org.
Every Halloween, the issue of cultural appropriation arises. Learn how to choose costumes that celebrate rather than offend.
About this
Every Halloween, the issue of cultural appropriation arises. Learn how to choose costumes that celebrate rather than offend.
Tips
- Avoid costumes that perpetuate stereotypes or instances of cultural appropriation, such as 'Arab Sheikh,' 'Mexican,' or 'Native American' outfits with fringe and feathers.
- Do not darken your skin or use makeup to change a child's skin color to match the person they are dressing up to be, due to the degrading and dehumanizing history of blackface.
- Reinforce the importance of not turning a person's identity into a stereotyped image for Halloween.
- Help children understand why dressing in a caricature of someone else's identity is hurtful and problematic.
