STARS: Student Group Takes A Stand Against Racist Costumes

The above photos were created by the student organization at Ohio University called Students Teaching Against Racism (STARS). Their mission is "to educate and facilitate discussion about racism and to promote racial harmony and to create a safe, non-threatening environment to allow participants to feel comfortable to express their feelings."

When they posted this campaign to the president of the group's tumblr page they did not anticipate the strong response they would get; the images spread like wildfire across the blogosphere. One writer, who reblogged the post shortly after it was published, received over 8,000 views in one day and had to disable her comments.

STARS has issued the following statement on their president's tumblr:

We are so proud of all the support but it’s overwhelming; We have less than 10 members in our group. lol We ask that you do not personally email any of the execs or message their personal tumblrs. Thank you guys so much for the love! The purpose was to educate and create dialogue and it did :) We have a meeting with a lawyer on Monday so we can protect our posters and the posters will be all over Ohio University’s campus this week! Again, thanks for the support and have a happy Halloween!
Best,
Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) at Ohio University Executive board

What do you think of the campaign? Sound off in the comments below.

Comments

[meeks]

12:03 PM on 10/31/2011

I don't see why people are having such a hard time understanding the concept. There are whole lot of things I do in the name of respecting others that I don't actually agree with but I do it anyway. Like cussing. If it was up to me, I would cuss everywhere and all the time. I don't because I don't want to offend people who don't have that same view point that cuss words are sentence enhancers. Cultural identity is so much deeper then my little example. Asking people to be a little more aware of what they are saying and doing does not warrant the level of vitriol posted on this board. Just be aware that what you do might actually hurt someone. You don't get it why they are asking. I don't getting shooting the messenger for having the guts to stand up for themselves.

[Synthetika Syringe]

12:26 AM on 10/30/2011

You know what? Whatever. They can go sit in their corners and have their fits for a while. If these are the issues they fret and stress over, I have a hard time believing its everyone else that is problematic.

[scottish white man]

08:34 AM on 10/29/2011

Pretty sad posters. These children are asking people to not dress a certain way at Halloween.
Trace the orgins of this day. You will find that it is a European tradition and is not for everyone and does not come with that guarantee that everyone will like it. It is not intended to offend.
If it does offend the problem is with the offended not the other way around.
The Constitution was also writtten for Europeans and by Europeans and not for everyone. Leave your culture at home or leave or at least quit finding things to whine about.
This is just one more of hundreds of reasons why MULTI-CULTURALISM is a CANARD. It won't work because it doesn't work.

[Phillip Rhoades]

12:47 AM on 10/31/2011

The Constitution was written by Europeans for Europeans? What does that even mean? The EU as we know wasn't remotely the same affiliation as we consider it now. Was it written for Italians? They weren't considered "white" or remotely respected in the United States for the first 150 years.

At least have a cogent idea about what "european" ideal we are supposed to be assimilating into.

Heck, multi-culturalism in Europe has been successful. Seems like your model works against you.

[scottish white man]

07:54 AM on 10/31/2011

This country as a functioning system was established by European settlers. That's what the even means. the constitution was written by people of European descent and was based upon their moral, spiritual and cultural values. That's what that even means. The EU is a modern invention established to dilute autonomous powers of the individual nations. We are not assimilating into any European ideal we are from a European culture depending on which country we have descended from. Multiculturalism is not working in Europe. You must check your facts. There is even a Country considering giving money to muslims to leave and never return. Don't go by what the media says it is controlled. Turn off your tv and learn to read and think for yourself.
Due to word length I will complete this in a following post

[Sandy Madison]

05:42 PM on 10/27/2011

Such a sad day it would be if the only people who can express the wit and wisdom of any culture are those within it. What an incredible shame it is how a much needed change accomplished by truly brave individuals has now become a social sensitivity disorder. I appreciate these youngsters in their effort to become politically active, but first they need informed how political speech does not carry a protection against being offended, however or who ever is. Moreover, not every mimic of others is ill mannered rudeness.

When I was a kid I sang in a small community choir which enjoyed a once a year festival for fundraising so we could travel. One of our musical skits was to dress as a mistral group. We never considered it anything but respecting the musical tradition which sprung like a garden out of the inequities of the southern plantation to teach us all to never give up or give in to inhumanity what ever form it might take.

We learned about the Jester Singers, Scatman Crothers and talked and thought about the good people who lived in that time and overcame so much. Our costumes bridged humanity by not denying it or disrespecting it.

[lyndoncjersey]

02:10 PM on 10/27/2011

Only those without a culture, family pride, or traditions find nothing wrong with exploiting a culture for kicks and giggles. We live in a vapid country which history is based on mocking and abusing those who are OTHER. It is not a surprise that most of the comments are negative towards a group asking their fellow countrymen to be more sensitive to images that hurt them. It's not called being sensitive, its simply asking you (the offender) to be more considerate. However,this involves some effort and perspective. I'd rather be considered sensitive than senseless.

[Brooks Maxwell]

02:38 AM on 10/27/2011

Special thanks to the girl of assumed Asian descent for complaining about one stereotype, yet not looking into the camera which makes you wonder whose eyes she is avoiding contact with...Gee that's a different Asian stereotype. Well done Ohio U...

[Andrea Doria]

02:07 AM on 10/27/2011

Gee no pimp or HAWT chick firefighter/cop costumes? This is bs.

[draftyrafters]

01:58 AM on 10/27/2011

My problems with this:

1. Based on this logic, you could argue against EVERY costume that represents a real occupation or culture. Should RN's take a stand against sexy nurse costumes? "This is NOT who I am!"

2. So egotistical! This is not who YOU are. Are you suggesting that everyone in your culture is like you? Isn't that racist in and of itself?

3. Most people do not wear costumes to express bigoted opinions. They dress up like stereotypes because they're funny. Bigotry is telling people what is and isn't okay to wear. Being able to laugh at stereotypes, on the other hand, is real tolerance and open-mindedness. "Protecting" cultures from Halloween costumes makes cultures seem week and costumes seem strong. The opposite is (or should be) true.

4. It's racist to dress up like a Geisha? Huh? Does this mean the colorful past elements of a culture are off limits if they no longer apply? I can't dress up as a Civil War general? How about Daniel Boone? But wait! That's NOT who Daniel Boone is anymore! He's a rotting corpse! Rotting corpse it is.

Grow up "STARS." "This is NOT who I am!" Well good! Nothing should be! Least of all a freaking Halloween costume.

[Phillip Rhoades]

02:11 PM on 10/27/2011

A couple differences:

1) Dressing up as a notable person is different than dressing up in a costume stereotyping an entire group of people (culture, ethnicity, race, etc)
2) Individuals choose to join occupations like nursing, lawyers, etc. We are born into cultures and ethnicities. Our physical appearance often eliminates our plasticity with that identification.
3) While debatable (thinking of the N-word), it is common taboo for the majority to openly use the symbols and language of a minority in a manner that is seen as derogatory or demeaning. Openly mocking your own culture is not as taboo, i.e. the majority mocking an element of the majority is often seen as fair game.
4) While the intention may not always been their to express "bigoted opinions" it does foster and perpetuate the negative stereotypes that affect people on a day-to-day basis. It validates the social currency of the stereotype. Just consider the costume of the terrorist....not too far off the social mark considering we have congressional hearing regarding Muslims in America.
5) Egotistical? Not a fair deduction. We are forced into these categories at a broad level. Its fair for them to challenge the stereotypes that affect them.

They are grown up. Its an imperfect campaign which is fair considering it was designed for a campus, not a national audience. But its quite mature to standup for you values in a courageous, articulate manner.

[draftyrafters]

10:02 PM on 10/27/2011

How is mockery more/less hurtful if it focuses on the product of birth or choice? One type might be easier to hide from, but does that make it better?

Halloween costumes do not foster negative stereotypes. They laugh at such stereotypes. Taking stereotypes seriously is what fosters true negativity, but I've never heard of anyone taking a Halloween costume seriously. The terrorist costumes, for example, take something that dominated society as a real source of fear and frustration, and turned it into a joke. The costumes don't suggest all Muslims are terrorists. They instead help people find a way to take this often dark and destructive world a little less seriously. Most Halloween costumes work in this vein.

And, yes, the phrase "This is NOT who I am" is INCREDIBLY egotistical. The costumes are NOT meant to represent any of these children or their races. No one is "forcing" these kids into categories via their costume, and these costumes will not affect their lives in any way. But what if, this Halloween, I dressed up as a Mexican child in a black shirt glumly holding up a pic of a man in a cartoonish Mexican costume? Would the boy up there approve? I doubt it.

We are all unique. Arguing that a costume of another race is not okay because it does not accurately represent YOU is bizarrely self-centered. Costumes aren't about who people are. Halloween costumes, especially, are meant to be anti-reality. Suggesting otherwise is ridiculous.

[Tammi Jensen]

11:49 PM on 10/27/2011

Really? Tell me- how many costumes of dead or horribly disfigured or injured people have you seen/worn/ laughed at/complimented? Speaking as a biker who lost a leg to a fool in a truck, I could scream BLOODY MURDER over such things, as they not only make light of my situation,they call to mind the worst moments, bar none, of my life. While I may not have been "born into" my situation, I assure you that I did not choose it. And yeah, I find those costumes distasteful and the people who wear them insensitive and rude. They offend me, and I've actually been nauseated by one to a point where I left the vicinity. But it's Halloween. People will dress like that- and they're having a good time- so why should I let it bother me? I find it far more mature, peaceable and less stressful to simply leave or ignore the fool, rather than making an issue over simple stupidity.
Bottom line: If you CHOOSE to be offended by something that is not meant to be hateful or insulting, that hardly shows maturity. Quite the opposite. Before you "stand up for your values", perhaps you should weigh them- this is just whining over a non-issue. Maturity, among other things, means learning to pick those battles that are worthwhile. This simply isn't.

[rotideqmr]

08:39 PM on 10/26/2011

Just what we need in the U.S. ... more people looking for something to get "offended" about!

[Phillip Rhoades]

02:14 PM on 10/27/2011

Gee, just what we need, those of us in the majority ignoring the requests of those in the minority asking us to be more inclusive and respect multiculturalism?

[ViktorN]

08:01 PM on 10/29/2011

How do you know the person commenting is in the "majority?" Not everyone in the "minority" thinks the same - in fact, suggesting such a thing, as you did, smacks very much of stereotyping that a member of the "majority" would do.

[cplKlyde]

07:03 PM on 10/26/2011

Can I go as a samurai? Seriously where is the line and who gets to draw it?

[Phillip Rhoades]

02:12 PM on 10/27/2011

You get to draw it but people around you will always be able to apply social pressure to your behaviors. Its how society works.

[Easyridersf]

02:07 PM on 10/26/2011

I agree that colleges should probably send out an email to let their students know that dressing up in blackface is racist and will make everyone look like an idiot because some college kids haven't been raised right, but this campaign is so off the mark it makes me cringe. It gives way too much power to idiots in stupid Halloween costumes. I mean, why is the girl looking like she's about to burst into tears because a white woman put on a Geisha wig? The fact that all of the 'racists" in the pictures look like they are half-way through a handle of flavored vodka only serves to hammer home the point: "If you are going to get blind stinking drunk and puke all over your costume, please make sure it is a costume that doesn't racially offend anyone." Also, it makes me think that the most popular costume at UA is going to be either PC police or Racially Offended Person Holding Picture of Guy Dressed as a Terrorist.

[sarahkaraok]

11:30 AM on 10/26/2011

I really like the posters and don't see why it's so difficult for people to get the point of them. The fact that people don't get the point makes that point even stronger. The kind of racism that they call out isn't even subtle. White people being offended by them is simply strange. Anyway, my only criticism is that all of the models in the posters are staring at the camera, looking strong. Except the Asian, that is. Asian women are stereotyped to be weak, submissive, shrinking violets. This poster (presumably inadvertently) supports this stereotype by making the Asian woman the only one who can't make eye contact.

[demsrsilly]

07:29 AM on 10/26/2011

Perhaps I can go as a drunk OU student trashing Athens. That would be appropriate and accurate this weekend..

[factsaboutchina]

02:08 AM on 10/26/2011

Dressing;like someone from a different culture isn't racist.

[B Duncan]

01:14 AM on 10/26/2011

"This is who I am and this is NOT OK" well these people are in no position of authority unless you submit to it. Also why inst there any Caucasian or Amerinds? Is it OK to poke fun at these groups?
Also, the Chinese girl is holding a picture of someone dressed as a Geisha, which is clearly Japanese. Ask any Japanese person, Japanese culture is VERY different than Chinese. This photo is offensive and racist in of itself.