Support NeoGAF

[Chiaroscuro]

It is stereotype, and may be a little insensitive but common, we are starting to live in a sad world, no? Too much "polical correct" and you cannot say anything. And I am a South American.


Edit: While I think no much damage can be done by that, please do not mistake it as a cultural event. It is not the guests culture, neither the host's.

 

[ebullientprism]

I dont think its offensive.

I am Indian. And if there was an Indian themed party with people wearing saris and kurta pajamas, eating Indian food with Bollywood music playing or something I genuinely wouldnt find that offensive. So I am extrapolating from that.

 

[Rich!]

About as racist as dressing in a striped shirt, with a beret, a ridiculous accent and a string of onions round your neck

as in, it's an exaggerated stereotype. not everything is automatically racist or designed to cause offence.

 

[Soleil rouge]

Would've still counted as a "Mexican theme" party if only the food, music and decoration were influenced. The costumes are unnecessary and immature. There's nothing wrong with having an ethnic theme party where the idea is to celebrate a certain culture with admiration and respect, but I guess that's too much to ask for White Americans. Let's bring out the dirty ponchos and silly hats instead.

How naive do you got to be to truly believe there wasn't any malicious intent in a party thrown by White people dressed to look like Mexican stereotypes on a seemingly random date (not even on the practically American holiday, Cinco de Mayo). Especially during the Trump era.

 

[knkng]

Would've still counted as a "Mexican theme" party if only the food, music and decoration were influenced. The costumes are unnecessary and immature. There's nothing wrong with having an ethnic theme party where the idea is to celebrate a certain culture with admiration and respect, but I guess that's too much to ask for White Americans. Let's bring out the dirty ponchos and silly hats instead.

How naive do you got to be to truly believe there wasn't any malicious intent in a party thrown by White people dressed to look like Mexican stereotypes on a seemingly random date (not even on the practically American holiday, Cinco de Mayo). Especially during the Trump era.

Costume is decoration.

I also love how you said "dirty ponchos" even though that was never said by the OP.

Well, of course they were dirty, because Mexicans are dirty people! I've foiled you once again White Americans™, my conspiracy goggles can see the truth! Dressing up in traditional clothing from a country while having a party celebrating said country is obviously a malicious plot to perpetuate the stereotype that Mexicans are dirty people!

 

[RoadHazard]

I would so go for some Tex-Mex right now.

 

[Valhelm]

I think national theme parties are okay if you keep it respectful. Just don't do anything you wouldn't see in an actual Mexican restaurant. Party City sombreros and $3 moustaches might not be as bad as actual brownface, but are still kinda fucked up -- You're mocking Mexicans rather than actually celebrating their traditions.

 

[Gravy Boat]

I think national theme parties are okay if you keep it respectful. Just don't do anything you wouldn't see in an actual Mexican restaurant. Party City sombreros and $3 moustaches might not be as bad as actual brownface, but are still kinda fucked up -- You're mocking Mexicans rather than actually celebrating their traditions.

I don't understand how wearing a fake moustache is mocking.

 

[Soleil rouge]

Costume is decoration.

I also love how you said "dirty ponchos" even though that was never said by the OP.

Well, of course they were dirty, because Mexicans are dirty people! I've foiled you once again White Americans™, my conspiracy goggles can see the truth! Dressing up in traditional clothing from a country while having a party celebrating said country is obviously a malicious plot to perpetuate the stereotype that Mexicans are dirty people!

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

 

[Rich!]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture

Sorry but that sounds perfectly fine to me.

Actually sounds like a great party. You telling me that people in America don't make fun of us British?

Lighten up.

 

[Subtle]

I'm Mexican and it's a fine line between respectful and disrespectful. Culture is not something to be taken lightly, and seeing a bunch of white people in cheap ponchos and fake mustaches would immediately put me on the defensive and err closer to disrespectful. It's not whether it's racist or not, it's whether you're respecting a culture that is closely intertwined to the identities of millions of people.

Dressing up as a French stereotype is not that the same as this. If a white people throw a European styled party no one cares. The Mexican people still face racism, personal and systemic, from the white majority in the US. So no shit some might take offense if it's not done with tact.

 

[Soleil rouge]

Sorry but that sounds perfectly fine to me.

Actually sounds like a great party. You telling me that people in America don't make fun of us British?

Lighten up.

To each his own. I personally don't think stereotypical redneck culture is anything to be proud of. At least the way it's viewed by non-Whites in the US.

 

[Kenshin001]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

No-one would care if you did that though. If no-one dressed up at nn American themed party and just ate American food and listened to American music, probably no-one would realise it's an American themed party.

 

[knkng]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

I would argue that trucker hats do not have the same significance to US culture that sombreros have to Mexican culture, but even then I still wouldn't care. It would just be a silly party where people are dressed up for fun. I live in Canada and wouldn't care if Americans had a "Canada party" and all dressed up like lumberjacks and hillbillies.

But that's straying from the point. A sombrero and poncho are an easy (and easily found) signifier of Mexican clothing/culture. I'm not naive, but I'm also not omnipotent. Of course they could all be racist fucks. They could all be child molesters for all I know. But making that declaration just because they are dressed up in traditional Mexican attire while at a Mexican themed party (and of course being white in America) doesn't automatically make it malicious.

If OP really wanted to know what was up, he could have just walked around and asked "What's up with the costumes?" The answers he received would be much more telling than simply projecting based on your own stereotyping.

 

[sikkinixx]

What if you had a Texas themed party and wore cowboy hats, plaid shirts, jeans and boots?

What if you had a Canadian themed party where people wore mountie outfits or fake beards, toques and plaid shirts to be lumberjacks?

What if you had a German themed party and wore lederhosen for men and those old style dresses for women?

You start adding confederate flags, Maple Leafs jerseys, or swastikas to those things and yeah, it gets on the offensive side pretty damn quickly but man wearing a sombrero and poncho?

 

[zeemumu]

Are old women also at the party? Are they gonna cross attack?

 

[Ragnorok64]

Maybe the OP felt bad in the larger context of how the whole of Latin America has been catastrophically wrecked by the USA throughout history and into the current age. I don't blame him for having a conscience.

The worst kind.

Holy crap, you guys are dramatic!

 

[OriginofHysteria]

What if you had a Texas themed party and wore cowboy hats, plaid shirts, jeans and boots?

What if you had a Canadian themed party where people wore mountie outfits or fake beards, toques and plaid shirts to be lumberjacks?

What if you had a German themed party and wore lederhosen for men and those old style dresses for women?

You start adding confederate flags, Maple Leafs jerseys, or swastikas to those things and yeah, it gets on the offensive side pretty damn quickly but man wearing a sombrero and poncho?

Hey now

 

[Rich!]

On the canadian side of things, I wonder if anyone there is offended by their (hilarious) portrayal in South Park

Because I'd very much doubt it.

 

[Kinyou]

On the canadian side of things, I wonder if anyone there is offended by their (hilarious) portrayal in South Park

Because I'd very much doubt it.

I imagine they're as outraged as they can possibly be

 

[BreezyLimbo]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

Ah yes

Someone doesnt think a party was offensive, so they must be naive. Way to insult people you're trying to convince.

 

[SystemBug]

I dont think its offensive.

I am Indian. And if there was an Indian themed party with people wearing saris and kurta pajamas, eating Indian food with Bollywood music playing or something I genuinely wouldnt find that offensive. So I am extrapolating from that.

but that's not whats happening in this party.

imagine going to a party, full of white people dressed as Indians, and speaking in the stereotypical brown accent. they aren't doing it as a celebration of your culture, but to mock it

 

[The Real Abed]

I dunno. Is it much different than having a Toga party? As long as they're not stupidly coloring their face it sounds like they're just having fun with the cultural appropriation. Are they running around saying stereotypical Mexican phrases like Speedy Gonzales?

Insensive definitely.

 

[Einchy]

To each his own. I personally don't think stereotypical redneck culture is anything to be proud of. At least the way it's viewed by non-Whites in the US.

I used to live in Mississippi and went to a high school with 68% percent black people, each year there was a thing called "red neck day" where you could dress up as red neck as possible just for fun.

Not everything has to be so serious.

but that's not whats happening in this party.

imagine going to a party, full of white people dressed as Indians, and speaking in the stereotypical brown accent. they aren't doing it as a celebration of your culture, but to mock it

How is that not what is happening in this party? Because it sounds like it's exactly the same thing, the OP never said that they were also speaking in stereotypical Mexican accents, that's something you made up.

 

[Kinyou]

but that's not whats happening in this party.

imagine going to a party, full of white people dressed as Indians, and speaking in the stereotypical brown accent. they aren't doing it as a celebration of your culture, but to mock it

Don't think anyone was mocking accents. At least can I not find the OP talking about it.

 

[SystemBug]

Don't think anyone was mocking accents. At least can I not find the OP talking about it.

It's taking one aspect of them and mocking it

what do you think the fake mustaches are there for?

 

[Kinyou]

It's taking one aspect of them and mocking it

what do you think the fake mustaches are there for?

It's still not an accurate comparison. I've heard about people being discriminated for their accents, I have not heard the same about mustaches.


Btw. India is apparently world leader when it comes to mustaches (followed by Mexico) so there wasn't even a need to substitute it with something else

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-travel-picks-moustaches-idUSTRE5A50ON20091106

 

[Makai]

So I'm at a Mexican themed restaurant...

 

[Dongs Macabre]

It's still not an accurate comparison. I've heard about people being discriminated for their accents, I have not heard the same about mustaches.


Btw. India is apparently world leader when it comes to mustaches (followed by Mexico) so there wasn't even a need to substitute it with something else

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-travel-picks-moustaches-idUSTRE5A50ON20091106

Would you say this is racist?

Because it is.

 

[SystemBug]

It's still not an accurate comparison. I've heard about people being discriminated for their accents, I have not heard the same about mustaches.


Btw. India is apparently world leader when it comes to mustaches (followed by Mexico) so there wasn't even a need to substitute it with something else

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-travel-picks-moustaches-idUSTRE5A50ON20091106

The way that people mock indians is done via the use of the accent. not mustaches. ignorant people don't know of the mustache shit for the most part.

the way mexicans have been stereotyped in the media, throughout ages, has been through the use of the mustache and sombreros. pretty much turning the people into a walking cartoon.

 

[Iorv3th]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

Yeah these parties exist, they are called 'white trash parties'. There are all kinds of different parties where people dress up in over characterized representations. I doubt anyone at all thinks that all mexicans wear ponchos and have mustaches.

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

If the party is with the intention of celebrating Mexican heritage, it's fine. Though, if you want to do that, maybe do a little more research in traditional Mexican folk clothing. You see everybody dressed the same(Sombreros, ponchos, thick black mustaches), even the girls. Why no other folk styles? Why no folk senorita dresses?

You don't see the effort in different Mexican folk style at these kinds of parties. Everybody wants to dress up as Pancho Villa, talk like Cheech Marin while swigging down Coronas or Dos Equis. Yup, that's Mexican. We all do that!

I wonder what a "white themed" party would look like.

People say "White isn't a country", but y'know, it's pretty damn brilliant how Whites can find a way to deflect that sorta shit away from them so they can't be put in a similar place as other ethnic groups. Allow me to change that.

White themed party would consist of people dressed in polo shirts, wearing penny loafers, chanting "Time to oppress some minorities!", "We should have the right to say the n-word and other 'forbidden words' without minorities getting bent out of shape!!", "Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps!", "All Lives Matter!!", "Make America great again... just like it used to be in the 1950s, when uppity minorities knew their place."

I can guess some White people might take offense to that, but know well I'm not talking about YOU. You're one of the "good" ones!

Though, as someone else stated, the privilege to throw a "different culture/ethnic themed party" is pretty much what white people do, hence a Mexican-themed party IS a White-themed party, through and through.

 

[Vitten]

Djeezes.. People are so increbibly oversensitive these days it's not even fun anymore.

I give it another 10 years before people are forced to have all their activieites run through a comittees first to make sure nobody's feelings are hurt.

 

[Kinyou]

The way that people mock indians is done via the use of the accent. not mustaches. ignorant people don't know of the mustache shit for the most part.

the way mexicans have been stereotyped in the media, throughout ages, has been through the use of the mustache and sombreros. pretty much turning the people into a walking cartoon.

It is a stereotype but I think those can be more and less harmful. (Like I said earlier, the accent one is cause for actual discrimination while the mustache one to my knowledge isn't )


If they were set out on insulting and mocking Mexicans I have to wonder why they didn't also adopt the bad accents, which are also part of the media stereotype

 

[danthefan]

No. I don't think this is racist. I probably wouldn't go because I really have no time for fancy dress of any flavour but for fuck sake I won't be allowed eat sushi in a few years the way things are going.

 

[SystemBug]

It is a stereotype but I think those can be more and less harmful. (Like I said earlier, the accent one is cause for actual discrimination while the other one to my knowledge isn't )


I think if they were set on insulting and mocking Mexicans they'd also have had adopted the bad accents which are also part of the media stereotype.

this is an example of casual racism that runs so deep down in our society today, and often some times people ignore it, but they do matter and crop up way too many times and its better to stomp this shit in the bud than rather it continuing.

if a viewpoint about a whole culture are these stereotyped things, then something needs to be done.

No. I don't think this is racist. I probably wouldn't go because I really have no time for fancy dress of any flavour but for fuck sake I won't be allowed eat sushi in a few years the way things are going.

nobody is saying you can't eat sushi, but if you want to sushi while doing this

then you might have an issue

 

[ghostofsparta]

Djeezes.. People are so increbibly oversensitive these days it's not even fun anymore.

I give it another 10 years before people are forced to have all their activieites run through a comittees first to make sure nobody's feelings are hurt.

Yeah everyone is so damn sensitive these days. Whites just can't catch a break. /s

 

[Haarasilimanila]

How would a Norway or Finland themed party look like?

Absolutely like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VBdAY8eA9w

 

[ColdPizza]

I forgot to mention one dude showed up in plaid shirt, bandana around forehead and sunglasses.

 

[EmSeta]

My wife is half Mexican, she loves throwing silly parties with mustasches and all. Not sure how it would be construed as racist. You're basically celebrating a culture, albeit in a silly way.

 

[Ishida]

How naive do you got to be to truly believe there wasn't any malicious intent in a party thrown by White people dressed to look like Mexican stereotypes on a seemingly random date (not even on the practically American holiday, Cinco de Mayo). Especially during the Trump era.

Not everyone is constantly looking for something to be offended about, you know. We mexicans have a pretty thick skin for such trivialities.

 

[Haarasilimanila]

Mexican party without someone roleplaying el chapo? boringggg.

 

[SDCowboy]

I don't see an issue at all. It's no different than a 'Murica party with everyone wearing cowboy hats and whatnot. Sombrero's and mustaches have nothing to do with the Mexican peoples' race, thus it's not racist.

My wife is half Mexican, she loves throwing silly parties with mustasches and all. Not sure how it would be construed as racist. You're basically celebrating a culture, albeit in a silly way.

Bingo. The described party is having a good time with Mexican culture. It has nothing to do with their race.

 

[Ishida]

Djeezes.. People are so increbibly oversensitive these days it's not even fun anymore.

I give it another 10 years before people are forced to have all their activieites run through a comittees first to make sure nobody's feelings are hurt.

Exactly.

We are raising a generation of whiny victims.

"Don't be naive! Be offended!"

 

[SystemBug]

Not everyone is constantly looking for something to be offended about, you know. We mexicans have a pretty thick skin for such trivialities.

People have chimed in to why it's an issue.

Just because you are ignorant as fuck on the topic doesn't mean you a right.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

People say "White isn't a country", but y'know, it's pretty damn brilliant how Whites can find a way to deflect that sorta shit away from them so they can't be put in a similar place as other ethnic groups. Allow me to change that.

White themed party would consist of people dressed in polo shirts, wearing penny loafers, chanting "Time to oppress some minorities!", "We should have the right to say the n-word and other 'forbidden words' without minorities getting bent out of shape!!", "Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps!", "All Lives Matter!!", "Make America great again... just like it used to be in the 1950s, when uppity minorities knew their place."

I can guess some White people might take offense to that, but know well I'm not talking about YOU. You're one of the "good" ones!

Though, as someone else stated, the privilege to throw a "different culture/ethnic themed party" is pretty much what white people do, hence a Mexican-themed party IS a White-themed party, through and through.

I suppose this counts as clever?

 

[Ishida]

People have chimed in to why it's an issue.

Just because you are ignorant as fuck on the topic doesn't mean you a right.

Ignorant as fuck?

Excuse me, the subject of this party is my culture. I'm a mexican living in México. So I'm in a pretty good position to say whether I find this party racist or not.

Or am I supposed to be a whiny person like you? Is that the correct perpsective? To bitch?

 

[mavo]

Some people act like mexicans are a minority in Mexico.

Honestly chicanos annoy me way more than whatever white people do, white people dont call themselves mexican, but chicanos do and they have such a weird attachment to Mexico, like sometimes they dont even speak spanish and are so proud of being mexican, ughhh.

Not relevant but i just wanted to get it out of my chest, i hate when chicanos speak for the beautiful people of mexico.

 

[danthefan]

People have chimed in to why it's an issue.

Just because you are ignorant as fuck on the topic doesn't mean you a right.

The poster, who is Mexican, is ignorant as fuck about whether this party is racist towards him/her.

Ok.

 

[Clockwork5]

This is akin to dressing up with cut off t-shirts, trucker hats and mullets to "celebrate" American culture.

Again, if you truly believe that there was no harm intended in such a party, then bless your little naive heart.

Trucker parties are fun too.

And what kind of intentional harm would come from such a party? Lighten up. People enjoy culturally themed parties.

No. I don't think this is racist. I probably wouldn't go because I really have no time for fancy dress of any flavour but for fuck sake I won't be allowed eat sushi in a few years the way things are going.

You'll be able to east sushi, you will just have a mob of white people throwing red paint on you while the Japanese owner apologizes for their ignorance.