Oh boy, oh boy. The University of Birmingham in England has banned the use of sombreros for costume proposes. Why? It's part of a crack down in what the university deems to be "descrimintatory behavior." I get all the hoopla about people wearing blackface as part of their costumes and I have to say that we're just not at the point where blackface as costume-wear is anything other than offensive, but sombreros. Really? Does that mean that when I go to Chevy's and they give me a birthday sombrero that I am participating in discriminatory behavior? I mean, I know it is totally stereotypical to say the least, but should it be banned?
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Carl Raynsford, a 21-year-old basketball player at the British university, was told that he and his teammates would not be allowed to attend a costume party dressed as Mexicans. Their costumes would have consisted of a sombrero, a poncho, and perhaps a drawn on mustache. Now I am about as liberal and easily offend-able as they come, but I just don't find this costume choice all that offensive. It's not like they were going to slather their faces with refried beans to look like they are brown and if anything a basketball team dressing as Mexicans is totally stereotype breaking because everyone knows Mexicans are short! I'm kidding!!! I'm Mexican and I'm tall. I'm just trying to make a joke here, folks.
The sombrero ban comes from the University of Birmingham guild of students and after receiving complaints, they decided to uphold the ban. Vicki Harris, the union's vice president of sport, sent the basketball team an email that reads, "After speaking with other officers dressing up as Mexicans would not be okay since it could be seen as imitation of a culture and relate to a stereotype about the race of that particular ethnicity group, even if the intention is by no means harmful at all."
That means you can't dress up as all sorts of stuff: matadors, flamenco dancers, cowboys/cowgirls, a drindl-wearing barmaid. What's next? A ban on clown costumes? I mean clowns are totally discriminated against. I personally hate them, so I would welcome a ban, but come on!
Granted there is a fine line between sensitivity as in don't wear black face or dress like the KKK for Halloween and political correctness gone overboard. Who else is going to wear sombreros if not drunken college kids and customers at Chevy's? I certainly don't see most Mexicans walking around sporting an urban sombrero where I live.
Great, now the politically correct liberal in me is going to wonder if every hat I put on makes me look racist.
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