It all started in the 1950s when Halloween costumes were more about cartoon characters and superheroes. But, as time went on, costume makers began to push the boundaries of what was considered acceptable. Fast forward to the 1990s, and we saw the rise of "ghetto" costumes that were downright offensive.
Some of the most notorious costumes include "Mexican" costumes complete with sombreros and "Native American" costumes with feathered headdresses. These costumes were often Reductionist and stereotypical, reducing entire cultures to a single, simplistic image. Yikes, talk about a faux pas!