Halloween and Freedom of Speech

Despite the simplicity and innocence of Halloween, the holiday can't seem to avoid being caught in the midst of controversy. Campuses and schools all across the country have taken to the initiative of censoring Halloween costumes in order to avoid racial stereotyping. Among those costumes infamous for doing so include the Japanese Geisha, Diana Ross, and other costumes with objectifying and cultural implications. However one may ask themselves, what the harm is in dressing up like a tribal warrior. Even if it includes mimicking certain traditions held sacred to those people many hardcore costume-goers still argue for their freedom of expression. One dress shop in a Sheffield city center seems to be taking their freedom of expression as far as it can go. "The Gestapo officer outfit", is available for purchase for professional actors and Halloweeners says store faculty. Though the Nazi themed costume may be unsettling to Holocaust survivors; by not allowing our Freedom of Expression to protect offensive content think about how much media we would be limiting? The store faculty offered a strong rebuttal by citing that the costume's purpose is for entertainment. This emphasizes the importance of context within the means of self-expression. Still many private universities have continued in the trend of policing Halloween costume involving suggestive themes. In contrast public universities and schools must follow federal law policy. Although likewise to private schools, public schools embody a wide variety of students from different backgrounds, and many take offense to certain costumes. Specifically the costumes that require blackface, and wearing Nazi paraphernalia. Many students, parents, and faculty worry if the First Amendment will reopen old wounds in attempts to protect freedom of expression. Megyn Kelly expressed an opposing sentiment "But what is racist, Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, Back when I was a kid that was okay, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character".  Kelly's argument had good intentions however it fails to mention the history of blackface in American culture. While her speech and the right to express oneself using blackface are both protected offensive content according to the First Amendment you will still held accountable by the masses. Kelly would later lose her position in aftermath of her speech, it's an instance of society silencing unpopular opinions.