Although there were a plethora of offensive costumes displayed on Halloween, this response is specifically addressed to the young man who found it entertaining to dress himself as a black man. I find your Halloween costume blatantly insensitive and offensive and not the least bit amusing.
Although you may think that it's humorous to "be black for a day," let me reassure you, it's not. Being black is not a costume that you can paint on and off whenever you feel the desire. Being black is not a lifestyle choice that one can choose to make. Being black is my life. So do not demean or patronize my experience and justify your racist beliefs as funny, even if one black person found your costume somewhat comical.
Furthermore, although you found it amusing to dress up as a black man, I guarantee that you do not understand the social or historical implications of what it means to be black in America. But if you ever decide to grow up and expand your horizons beyond the world that you think you know, I would be more than happy to sit down and have a discussion with you.
André Smith
senior
Morrissey Hall
Nov
