Why Shouldn’t Race Be a Costume?―A (Qualified) Defense of Wearing Cross-Racial Make-Up During Halloween

Over the past decade, many politicians and celebrities in North America have found themselves embroiled scandals that involved them having worn black make-up at least one incident white make-up. In most of these cases, used was part a costume for Halloween, Purim, Carnival, or themed party. This article challenges view wearing cross-racial on such occasions as personal costumes—as opposed to costumes are integral specific cultural traditions, New Orleans Zulu parade—is always wrong. To do so, it assesses five promising objections this practice. Although some count against certain uses make-up, I show several high-profile cases where worn, none had force, whether because were implausible and/or they did not apply.