Cultural Appropriation

I don't know how to re-blog stuff from Tumblr but I wanted to share this.

aprilseye For all people who are considering painting their face as Dia de los Muertos skulls on HALLOWEEN, pleaseeeee reconsider!

Dia de los Muertos is a sacred tradition and holiday that traces back to our indigenous roots. 

Halloween on the other hand is different and is celebrated in different ways here in the U.S. that is no where near in relation to Dia de los Muertos. Painting your face then can be cultural appropriation for several reasons:

 1. It is offensive to the people who actually celebrate it. By showing up with a “cool” and “unique” costume while completely ignoring the meaning of Dia de los Muertos (to pay respect to ancestors) you are practicing a form of power and oppression.

2. “But I’m Mexican..” “But I’m Latina..” Remember that racism is not only practiced in the U.S., but also in Mexico. Just because you are bicultural, it does not always mean that you are accepting of your indigenous roots. In my family, my grandma used to call my mom, “pinche India,”  when they got in an argument, even though they are both Mexican. My mom however got called out because she has darker skin.

3. Cultural appropriation has been used enough in U.S. Halloween celebrations. Look at all the “Native American,” “Indian,” “Geisha,” “Mexican,” costumes. Just because your skull make up is new and is “prettier,” it doesn’t mean its any less racist or ignorant.

4. By wearing this face paint on a day where everyone is going to be wearing costumes, you prolly wont have the time to educate people on what Dia de los Muertos means. As a result, people who have no prior knowledge about Day of the Dead may think, “oh that’s a neat costume for next year,” and will continue this cycle and appropriate it themselves.

It’s not my place to tell you what Dia de los Muertos means. It’s also not my responsibility to teach you about cultural appropriation. Just look it up. Think about your intentions. Of course most people who are thinking of doing this do not mean to offend, but in the end it does.

I feel like giving halloween suggestions. Here we go folks! If you like the pretty black and white patterns on your face and the sticking flowers in your hair thing-

Dress up as a fashion conscious zebra! Not an appropriation of a culture! Yay!

So many youtube “gurus” are doing sugar skull halloween tutorials this year. Not cute, just appropriation. 

This was a big one for me because I was always a HUUUGE fan of skulls and skeletons and death before I learned about Dia de Los Muertos, and I also love that Holiday for all it stands for. I love the idea of not being afraid of death, and there are some aspects of that to Dia de Los Muertos, but also my own philosophy. Dress up as a skeleton or the dead, but please be more creative, and don’t make it a sugar skull. I’m trying to think up a design that won’t resemble Dia de Los Muertos so there’s no mistaking. But if anyone thinks this is still problematic let me know… Same with feathers, be a bird or make an outfit with feathers in it, but please don’t be “tribal.”