Halloween is of course coming up, and I know a lot of people are already planning outrageous costumes. It’s fun to get dolled up and go all out, but one thing you should consider is whether or not your costume is offensive.
Some outfits are overtly offensive; some are not. Dressing up as Caitlyn Jenner, for instance, seems destined to provoke and mock the trans community. Blackface, or wearing dark makeup to make yourself look black, is even more unacceptable. That seems like a no-brainer, but just last week a UCLA fraternity got caught throwing a party in which white attendees wore charcoal on their faces to look like rapper Kanye West. What were they thinking?
Some costumes have been around so long, we may not see them as offensive. Donning a Native American headdress and warpaint, dressing up as a geisha, or slapping on a fake moustache and a sombrero are all forms of cultural appropriation. It may not be your intention to offend, but these costumes are parodying other cultures and you should be sensitive to that.
My vote? Keep it simple and go as Left Shark.