Is it racist

[ckay87]

I'm not even going to get into whether its "offensive" or not. I really don't care about adults...they can dress as whatever they please. I used the word appropriate...for a child...to choose a costume that glorifies violence, murder, drug dealing, lack of education...etc to me thats not funny or festive.

I understand and respect your thoughts on this

But generally-speaking kids don't necessarily admire or aspire to be that which they are dressing up as for halloween.

I'm really hoping my son doesn't aspire to be an old woman (though he's enjoying the costume a little more than I'd like.) Other DS doesn't aspire to be a bum. Neighbor kid dressing up like a ghost doesn't hope to be...dead.

Anyway, that's just the way I see it.

 

[Robinrs]

My son calls that look "thuggish" and no, it is not just African Americans who dress like that. My son, the nerd, would rather die...

I've seen all races wear those clothes and in my neighborhood the latinos have mastered it.

I grew up around lots of ghettos, NY is FULL of them where the boroughs are more separatist than the South, and remember learning the denotative term back in the 6th grade. Even back then it had turned into the term for a black neighborhood so I remember it shocking me then. It's no surprise that it has taken on a life of it's own.

 

[CathrynRose]

My DD came home from visiting her dad in a very small very nice Pa town..She came talking about that towns ghetto, which I found rediculous.. That beautiful little town full of middle class peoplewith cell phones and Ipod is not a ghetto.. As a Jew, I wanted her to become aware of what life is like for people in a real ghetto.

I understand that - my kids have used the term 'ghetto' about area's and I say 'Youre kidding me right? Chicago suburbs ghetto....mmmmm'okay'

I know what you mean.

But I just dont think the way this ghetto was used - is what its being made out to be. She just meant hip-hoppy.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

My son calls that look "thuggish" and no, it is not just African Americans who dress like that. My son, the nerd, would rather die...

I've seen all races wear those clothes and in my neighborhood the latinos have mastered it.
I grew up around lots of ghettos, NY is FULL of them where the boroughs are more separatist than the South, and remember learning the denotative term back in the 6th grade. Even back then it had turned into the term for a black neighborhood so I remember it shocking me then. It's no surprise that it has taken on a life of it's own.

I agree, many races dress like that. I'm from a mid-sized city in southeastern New Mexico, and while we may not have the ghettos' you'd see in New York, we have the Latinos that dress and act that way, and yes, they have mastered it.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I understand that - my kids have used the term 'ghetto' about area's and I say 'Youre kidding me right? Chicago suburbs ghetto....mmmmm'okay'

I know what you mean.

But I just dont think the way this ghetto was used - is what its being made out to be. She just meant hip-hoppy.

Yeah I know..I know the word has a new meaning... I first heard it wo, 6 years ago when DN pointed out that a car was "ghetto"

 

[CathrynRose]

But generally-speaking kids don't necessarily admire or aspire to be that which they are dressing up as for halloween.

.

I sure hope not - my son is dressing as Dog the Bounty Hunter this year.

 

[Briarmom]

I sure hope not - my son is dressing as Dog the Bounty Hunter this year.

Oh man! I wanted to get Dog and Beth costumes for dh and I.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Gee, they do all of those things at my kids school up here in Liberal RI.
DS's Halloween dance is tomorrow

They do all those things where I am in a conservative pocket of purple Colorado, too.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It may not be "racist" in you eyes, but if he is gonna be wondering around a large city, with true gang members driving around, it could get him shot.

 

[jrmasm]

I dont think its offensive at all, if anything people may not know she is in a costume because alot of kids , blond hair blue eyes all diffrent nationalities and looks dress this way. Its a style .

All you did was use the wrong word to describe it, no big deal IMO

It wasn't my word.

I need to talk to her to find out what she meant. It may not have been her word either. She said that she and another friend were going to dress this way. If she meant something else (hip hop, rapper etc) she needed to say that.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I dont find it racist at all..

my 2yo was going to be this , but I decided to makie him a kissing booth instead.

 

[CathrynRose]

You know - I ran out to get lunch and thought "What about Pirates?"

Granted - Pirates was a movie, a ride - but geez, Pirates were theives, rapists, murderers.....

I mean, if we're gonna get all picky.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

For the record, this is my child and her parents are involved thank you very much. She suggested this (her words in my op) and both DH and I were uncomfortable with the idea. CR's picture show what she had in mind. I felt it was similar to dressing in 'black face.'

She doesn't see it as a big deal because 'friend S thinks it's funny and he's black.'

DH dropped our younger daughter off at daycare this morning and an adult was dressed in a similar manner (today is their party).

Regardless, this will not be her costume I'm just trying to figure out if we're overreacting.

I don't think you are overreacting. I wouldn't want my children to dress up like that either. I don't think it racist though.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I sure hope not - my son is dressing as Dog the Bounty Hunter this year.

Hey, I like Dog!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

You know - I ran out to get lunch and thought "What about Pirates?"

Granted - Pirates was a movie, a ride - but geez, Pirates were theives, rapists, murderers.....

I mean, if we're gonna get all picky.

Not all of them. A lot of them were commissioned by countries to wage war aginst that countries enemies (commissioned as a Privateer) on the high seas, and their payment was any "booty" taken from the ships they took. (can you tell I have Discovery channel!!) A lot of times they simply took over the ships after boarding, and the crew either continued to serve, or got to swim home.

One countries pirate is another countrys "freedom fighter"

"Theives, Rapists, Murderers.." You post like that stuff is a BAD thing?

Arrrrhhh Ya swab handle Landlubber, Ya!

 

[ckay87]

You know - I ran out to get lunch and thought "What about Pirates?"

Granted - Pirates was a movie, a ride - but geez, Pirates were theives, rapists, murderers.....

I mean, if we're gonna get all picky.

Oh, yea, I'm thinking the same way. Halloween just ain't "dress up as your idol" day.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I dont think its offensive at all, if anything people may not know she is in a costume because alot of kids , blond hair blue eyes all diffrent nationalities and looks dress this way. Its a style .

This was what I was trying to say. Kids (and some adults) of all ethnicities wear these outfits everyday. I don't really see it as a costume. But it could be. I wouldn't be offended.

 

[RickinNYC]

My opinion is that it's Halloween, and folks dress up in outrageous costumes to amuse, titilate, scare, etc... It's a time to be over the top. And quite honestly, there are folks run rampant with men in drag, women as pregnant nuns, flashing preists, zombie babies in carriages, dead flight attendants, accident victims, and the list goes on and on.

It's Halloween. If anyone is going to be offended by a costume, I think that person should stay home and watch the Charlie Brown special. Then again, Lucy dressed as a witch didn't she? God forbid a Wiccan priestess get upset over that offensive choice.

No offfense to our DIS Wiccans, of course.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Anyone on here ever hear the term "GhettoFabulous"? The past several years this has been used in the Hip/Hop lingo, whether it be a song or even on TV. Kids hear the darndest things.

I was going to dress up as George Bush, would that offend the Democrats?

Come people it is Halloween 1 day a year where it is supposed to be FUN to dress up as someone or something over the top.

Fun remember what that was.................

 

[lustergirl]

I'm not even going to get into whether its "offensive" or not. I really don't care about adults...they can dress as whatever they please. I used the word appropriate...for a child...to choose a costume that glorifies violence, murder, drug dealing, lack of education...etc to me thats not funny or festive.

How does the word gangsta represent all of this? You are stereotyping here!! There are plenty of gangsta rappers out there who are very intelligent and some are among the richest people in the USA- I wouldn't call that being stupid. It is very funny how white children can dress up like the black kids, listen to the rap or hip hop music, but be first to call some the "n" word.