Not wearing blackface this Halloween? NC State worries you may be Hitler

On Tuesday, Khari Cyrus, the student body president at North Carolina State University sent a campus wide email on the “concept of appreciation vs. appropriation” this Halloween.

“Are you Hitler? Do you have anything to do with Hitler?”

The email directed students to a new webpage from the administration that has the aim of “Making Halloween an Inclusive Experience for all.”

The first part of the page focuses on making sensitive and smart choices when it comes to deciding what to wear this Halloween, which also falls on the school’s homecoming weekend. Examples of costumes deemed inappropriate are “Hey Amigo Mexican,” “Native American,” and “Tighty Whitey Rapper.”

The school included a flowchart to aid in making appropriate costume choices.

The first questions asks, “Are you planning on painting your face black to mimic a skin tone?” If the answer is yes, the chart informs one that, “That’s called blackface, and it’s never okay, no matter how clever your costume is.”

If the answer is no, however, the chart does not praise the sensitivity of the costume-wearer, but rather implies that they might be a mass murderer, asking, “Are you Hitler? Do you have anything to do with Hitler?”

The chart goes on to warn against wearing any costume that could be construed as glorifying hunting, because dressing as Cecil the Lion’s killer “might ruffle feathers.” The guide also warns against other wearing costumes that promote violence or a political stance you otherwise wouldn’t make public.

The rest of the web page on which the graphic appears is dedicated to helping students choose inclusive party themes. Last week, a group of students faced backlash for holding a “CMT v. BET” themed party last week.

This is not the first time a university administration has issued warnings to students regarding what to wear for Halloween. Earlier this month, Campus Reform reported that Wesleyan was providing checklists to students for the purpose of avoiding “offensive” Halloween costumes.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @LadyLibertyNC