When students are unsure if their Halloween costume displays cultural appropriation, they should ask members of that particular community in order to avoid offending others, said the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Kimberly Flint-Hamilton.  

Flint-Hamilton referred to using the Native American war bonnet for a costume as an example of cultural appropriation. 

The war bonnet is “something that needs to be earned,” she said, and members of that culture may feel dehumanized or disrespected if the bonnet is adapted for Halloween or another event. “We want to be as respectful as we can,” stated Flint-Hamilton. 

Thao Nguyen ’22 described a U.S. singer wearing the ao dai, a Vietnamese national garment, during a concert in Dallas, Texas. 

The singer did not wear pants, which disrespects Vietnamese tradition since skin is not to be shown when wearing the garment, explained Nguyen. 

The sexualized outfit took away from the cultural significance of the ao dai, according to Nguyen. She advises students  to “consult and ask questions,” in order to prevent cultural appropriation. 

In addition to asking questions to ensure respect for people from other cultures, questions should also be posed to those who participate in cultural appropriation. 

Manny Salazar ’22 and Jane O’Connor ’20, created a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” on how to approach someone who illustrates appropriation. 

Start with a question, such as, “Do you think that costume might offend someone from that culture?” stated Salazar. 

Make sure the conversation is in person and one-on-one,  suggested Salazar. He added that “you don’t want to come in with a group of people – you don’t want people to feel like you’re attacking them.” It is also important to express empathy and “open their minds to what they’re wearing,” said Salazar. 

“A college experience is supposed to open our minds,” said Flint-Hamilton. 

She believes that in order to accomplish this we must learn how to communicate with others across our differences. “Even if unintentional, the more often you participate in cultural appropriation, the more divides you create among folks,” Flint-Hamilton stated. 

St. Lawrence University students from the Inter-fraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and La Sociedad organized the meeting “Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation” to discuss cultural appropriation and the divides it creates.