Growing up, Halloween was always my favorite holiday. It’s a time to let your imagination and horrors run wild as you adopt an alter ego; transforming into your character (or creeper) for a night. It’s a holiday made for the inventive, creative, and sometimes cooky. Whether you’re at a party, or watching scary movies on the couch, it’s a chest pounding holiday.

However, as grand and fun as it is, it can get the blood rushing in a negative way when distasteful costumes are created for public display. If you think that dressing as a Native American is a fun, historical choice, get real; it’s 2017. It will never be okay to dress as an oppressed group of people, especially when you are considered privileged in society.

This undermines their struggle, but also puts their presence in the past. They are the present. It disrespects the history of those who are oppressed and enforces stereotypes. These costumes indicate that all Native people are one, not bothering to distinguish tribes from each other.

The culture being imitated has crucial meaning behind each piece, and even feather. For instance, the headdress. Each feather is sacred and symbolic. It’s not something that is meant to be purchased in Party City and tossed after the 31st, or to be re-worn for a festival.

While Native American culture imitations provide indisputable examples in this discussion, other cultures and ethnicitys are not immune. Considering the racial climate of the country, it will not be as surprising as it was in the past to see blackface, or Mexican stereotypes being portrayed.

In response to this social climate, Ohio University launched a campaign in 2011, "We're Culture Not A Costume," which is still relevant today with its powerful images.

If you feel as though it is a nod to the culture, a respectful imitation, try to picture yourself in their shoes. Imagine your person and appearance are manipulated to be something that to represent values which you do not condone. Each stereotype and insult to your being is on public display with intentions of being accepted and even admired. Many will say that it is a sensitivity issue and may even say, “live a little.” They’ll even fall back on humor. After all, it's easier to laugh than admit when you're wrong.

What we're dealing with is cultural appropriation. Those dressing as these "characters" have no respect, or even knowledge of the culture they are using for a few hours. A culture is not something you can simply claim for your own and use to bring yourself profit. Just take a look at fashion, music, television, and even sports. When you are looking, you will certainly find it.

It comes down to one's intention when they invest their interest in a culture. On Halloween, many will wear a headdress, "black-face," and even kimonos to simply steal an identity, with no background of what this identity is established from. However, there are others who choose to embrace and learn about other cultures.

For instance, this mom was called racist for planning a Japanese tea party for her daughter. Despite researching the ceremony and planning ensembles to be culturally accurate, she was met with backlash among those who supported her and viewed it as a bow to traditional Japanese practices.

Truly, there is a lack of understanding and under representation for minorities, which is quite possibly where this ignorance is stemming from. We don't need to live in this bubble of a world. Let's live in a world where we love the people as much as their culture and seek to learn about each other. Continue to educate your neighbors, or online audience, and stand up for cultures, even when they are not your own.