Black History Month - Cultural Dress Day?

Question

For Black History Month (October) we are having a cultural dress day at work. Im white, would it be offensive to say indian people if I was to wear a sari? Im not sure if you are meant to dress in other people's culture clothes, or your own!

In the UK Black History Month is in October.
http://www.black-history-month.co.uk/

Other white people dress in non-white clothes ie the Chief Executive last year wore an African type dress/gown

Answer 1

Jeez man - get another job. One that doesn't include dressing up!
This sounds sooo wrong.

Answer 2

As mentioned above india and Africa not related, apart from expulsions and distrust, which continues even today (yes i have been to Africa and witnessed it)

I'm totally ok with African History month, or Indian or Chinese etc.

As a white person i fnd the terms "black" and "white" offensive and perpetrate racism, so you telling me that makes chinese people yellow, or you counting them as black as well. The passport you hold is your nationality.

Slavery was bad we all know that, but it was perpetrated by Africans as well, (THEY WERE TRADED) and continues to this day. Im also sick of us carrying all the burden, at the height of the slave trade 10 x the amount of slaves were being shipped to the middle east compared to europe/US. Africans make up a healthy proportion of the US/Europe population, but very little of modern arab populations, either worked to death and or gelded.

The church also through misinterpreting the bible where it says "ham was cursed to be black" gave its rubber stamp of approval.

Cmon people, can we stop trying to find differences in each other and realise we all want the same in life, to live in peace and for those that want kids to be able to provide and suport for them.

Answer 3

If there are people that you work with who are Asian or African you should speak to them about wearing something from their cultural heritage, it might be a good way of getting to know your colleagues better. If you talk to them about it first they'll probably really welcome your interest and might even offer to lend you something to wear. Whenever my white friends have asked me about saris we've had a great time dressing up in them and I love having the opportunity/excuse to show off my saris.

Answer 4

you could go dressed as a plantation owner, a sharecropper or as a soldier of the union or confederate army. You could also go dressed as Abe Lincoln or the southern President of the Confederacy(whats his name?).
These are all related to both black and white history. Be prepared to explain the meaning of your choice and why it matters to black history.
Edit: OH, UK sorry. when did England abolish slavery and how did the Prime Minister dress at the time? You could still go as a Plantation owner from the West Indies or the Britsh Colonies of Vrginia, The Carolnas (north and south) Georgia, etc (the southern states after they rebelled from England) You could also go as a Royal Navy sailor of the period trying to stop the slaveships from smuggling people.

Answer 5

Ermm, well hun I dont think it really matters what you wear- as long as you are comfortable wearing it. I find the whole thing offensive...why is only one month dedicated to Black History? It should be taught in schools along with 'other' peoples history. The only Historical dates i remember from school is 1066; 1st &2nd world war; oh yeah and the holocost... food for thought.

Answer 6

No why should it there a number of white women that where a sari, they are after all just clothes so go for it, some look really nice

Answer 7

who the heck cares
why should it matter what you wear.
if you want to wear a sari do so....
if you want to wear a hijab do so.
if you want to wear a twinset do so

personally Id take it as patronising if someone started wearing clothing out of character because of some made up 'national day / week / month'

personally i take these national xxx days with a pinch of salt. they are often a vehicle for people to cultivate their minority sense of grievance, under the guise of soem worthy cause. there are often precious few postiives to come out of such events, just an increased feeling of difference and grievance

btw Black history month has precious little to do with the Indian Subcontinent. the balck history month makes explciit reference to African and Caribbean NOT Asian (so unless you include the explusiuon of Asians from Uganda precious little asian history to come from Africa)

Answer 8

I would assume that you are supposed to dress in your own culture. You say that you are white, but do you know where your family is originally from? Ireland, Germany, etc? You can dress in those type of clothes if you know.

Answer 9

I thought black history month was in feb.

Answer 10

black history month is in february?