Racial Profiling on Halloween
This tale is a stark reminder that profiling individuals based on appearance persists in the 21st century. Our storyteller happens to have slightly tanned skin and is acutely aware of the differential treatment they receive in their native Australia. One Halloween, they dressed up as a self-proclaimed “bad guy.”
They embarked on their trick-or-treating adventure, sporting the stereotypical attire of cargo pants and a white tank top. However, their costume quickly backfired, as several people assumed they weren’t in costume at all. In a particularly unnerving encounter, an older woman even gave chase with a cricket bat, convinced that he was attempting to rob her house. This Halloween serves as a poignant reminder not to judge a book by its cover, especially on this festive occasion.