The month of October is among us. The colors of the leaves have changed. The nights grow longer and the weather is colder.

That being said, Halloween is near.

This, however, is not an excuse to adorn yourselves with someone else's culture for the sake of trendiness.

You are your own individual being, so no matter how many supporting arguments I include, you are the only one who can decide your actions, but before I delve into this controversial topic, let me clarify some terms.

Culture is defined as the history, arts, customs and traditions of a group of people and appropriation is established as the action of taking something for one's own use.

The United States is a melting pot of people from all over the world, therefore, it is absolutely inevitable that one can pick up on dialect, customs and traditions from different cultures. However, cultural appropriation does not deal with exposure.

It actually occurs when an individual adopts certain material elements of another culture without permission, dismissing the history and purpose behind it.

Who exactly should you ask for permission, then? A singular person from that background cannot possibly represent the views and opinions of an entire culture, but here is a simple solution: ask yourself, "Is this offensive?"

If you even have to ask, it probably is.

Very bluntly, it is the exploitation of marginalized groups for personal gain. It can be particularly harmful because minorities have faced oppression from a dominant class for decades.

No, the issue isn't that we've become overly sensitive - it is just that our voices are now being acknowledged. We are using a platform to represent those who have been silenced for far too long.

Here are a few examples of what you should stay away from and why.

1. Blackface

There are disturbing implications in painting your skin to portray another race. It has roots in superficial stereotypes. During the 19th century, this racist theatrical make-up was used by non-blacks to represent demeaning images on minstrel shows and it eventually came to an end with the Civil Rights Movement - or, at least, we thought.

You do not get the benefit of the doubt, regardless of whether or not you were aware of the history behind it. Being black or any another other race is not a performance. You never need to paint your skin to accurately depict a character because race is not a costume, nor will you ever understand the struggles of black.

2. Native American Headdresses

This particular item gained mainstream popularity at music festivals without realizing the repercussions. Perpetrators fail to realize the spiritual significance behind it. It is not a fashion statement to appear urban, rustic or free-spirited; it is a way to commemorate special ceremonies, used by respectful power figures and traditionally worn by males.

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of distinct tribes, dawning this headdress furthers the idea that Natives pertain to a single culture. They were obliterated by a nation founded on genocide, rape and pillaging. This land was taken and used for individual gain - sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Social activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied argues illustrated that this is "the kind of attitude that led to the normalization of imperialist, colonial rule: 'I want this, and therefore I shall take it.' The attitude drips of racial supremacy..."

3. Dreadlocks

Dreadlocks serve as a way for black boys and girls to maintain their hair with ease, but the cultural appropriation of this hairstyle applies throughout the year. The reason people take offense is that dreadlocks are usually a deciding factor of whether or not someone maintains a job in a workplace environment.

As I mentioned in my previous article, Afrocentric hairstyles are deemed as unprofessional but continue to be sported by non-blacks as an effort to look edgy. You're wearing something that is free of consequences for you but disregarding the members of the culture you're imitating is called ignorance.

4. Stereotypes

Let's be real, we see it all the time - especially during Halloween. Greek life is unsurprisingly often popping up in the news with racist themed-parties. Attendees at Baylor University's "Cinco de Drinko" party wore construction vest and sombreros. The Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter at the University of California, Los Angeles were seen reinforcing stereotypes by dressing up as gangsters and painting their faces black and brown. The university I currently attend is not innocent, either. Back in January of 2014, Tau Kappa Epsilon at Arizona State University hosted a black party in commemoration for Martin Luther King Day... a black party.

Point-blank, you should be making the effort to educate yourself.

It is fine to appreciate other cultures and heritages, but this is possible without adopting certain symbols, traditions and practices for personal use.

Whether you realize it or not, doing so reduces the groups of people you're depicting and they continue to reinforce existing hierarchical systems.