MountainMornings

Who will you be tonight for Halloween? Do you continue to dress up, as a family, in a creative coordinated way and prowl the neighborhood? Or do you sit in your doorway with some Snickers? One for you, two for me! It’s been many years since we’ve had any Trick or Treaters at all, so tonight our candy pumpkin will be full and standing at attention by the door. Ms Bean will be barking her head off at all the ghosts and goblins.

I have to think Nell’s family may have actually known some gypsies back in Czechoslovakia, because my only memory of wearing a costume is sitting on Daddy Jim’s lap as a gypsy. It’s probably because that’s the one Halloween picture that survived my foster care years, and I look pretty happy in my black mask, long skirt and bangles. When did we think it was OK to dress up like slut-scary working girls of the night with short skirts, teased hair and theatrical make-up?

But enough about sexualizing naughty nurse costumes for women, Bob and I were tasked to find a wig for our grand baby boy. You’ve probably guessed that the Love Bug will be going out tonight as Moana – her very favorite Disney Princess…so naturally her little brother wanted to be Maui! AKA the Demi-God Rock, a big, beautiful, strong Polynesian guy covered in tattoos! Why he’s a modern day Popeye, a super hero of sorts with a large personality and a big heart.

Only our almost 3 year old guy has glorious strawberry red hair and Maui has long brown dreadlocks. And finding a Maui wig was no easy task, even in Nashville where they have an actual Disney store. Bob and I were surprised to learn that though Moana outfits were sold everywhere, including in Target, a Maui outfit (with or without a wig) is non-existant. I was glad I’d ordered him Maui PJs for the Love Bug’s birthday, but surprised to hear the reason Disney Doesn’t Do Maui.  

The outfit had caused disquiet among the Polynesian community.

Hawaiian Chelsie Haunani Fairchild said it was offputting to have a child wear the skin of another race.

“Polyface is Disney’s new version of blackface. Let’s call it like it is, people,” Fairchild said. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/22/disney-pulls-maui-childrens-costume-amid-claims-it-is-offensive

The salesperson at Party City told us they didn’t get any Maui costumes or wigs. Now granted, Bob and I are certainly more liberal than most and pretty sensitive to stereotyping, but we were floored. Our little guy can’t emulate his favorite cartoon character because he’s not Polynesian, only part Jewish, Irish and German – and mostly full American?

There’s a difference between an adult Prince Harry dressing up like a Nazi and a 3 year old kid in PJs!

Can kids dress up like cowboys and Native Americans anymore? Am I starting to sound like my Mother? Hope my little story didn’t offend any people of Southeast Asian descent, and if it did, I apologize in advance.

Now go out there and scare some people! Happy Halloween! BOO!!