Some Halloween Costumes Cross The Line of Decency

There are two times during the year when the American culture relaxes its restrictions on appropriate dress: Mardi Gras and Halloween. For some people, these celebrations allow people to express their deepest identities with complete impunity.  But even at Halloween, some costumes simply cross the line of moral decency.

A recent photo of young people costumed as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmermann has been making rounds on social media.  According to reports, William Filene wore a blackface and a bloodstained hoodie to depict Trayvon Martin, while his friend, George Cimeno, wore a “Neighborhood Watch” t-shirt and made a gun sign with his fingers to illustrate gunman, George Zimmerman.

This depiction of violence defies everything promulgated by culture of respect. Even common sense proscribes such a dishonor of the black community and racial equality. These young people are old enough to know right from wrong, and it is shocking to a reasonable conscience they would even consider such an offensive “costume.”

In a society of decency and respect, it is our duty to call these young people on their hateful behavior, and apply substantial sanctions against them. No one is safe until all wolves of hate are brought to their day of reckoning.

Dr. Anton Anderssen

FaceOfAnthropology.com