I mean until I moved back to the U.S.

Jo Turner, the makeup is part of the costume to look authentic, in appreciation for the culture. Nothing wrong was done. It is a compliment to appreciate others' cultures.

I too lived in Japan as a child...and know exactly what you mean...

Jo Tuner, it is quite a bit different whether one is wearing makeup to look like another race or wearing makeup as worn by another race to get the same effect.

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Wearing clothing is different from wearing makeup to look like another race.

Actual progressives probably despise SJWs even more than conservatives do.

Racisim was a thing long before social media xD But yes it hasnt helped. Heres hoping other people are sensible enough to just shut that down like this person has done right away

Jimmy please check out more about those people, they're really becoming a thing... Unfortunately.

No it's the left wing nuts that are such snowflakes and SJW that nobody can say anything without some whinny a*s baby getting butt hurt

I had a similar experience a few years ago. I was working at a Haunted House taking tickets. A Gypsy brother & sister came up to me and said I looked like their grandmother as a young girl in old photos they had. They were not offended. They thought it was great. I was thrilled that my costume was authentic. Only someone who always sees things in their darkest context could call that "racist".

our family is Roma, and we'd have had the same reaction. :D

One time on Halloween, I dressed up in a Mexican "day of the dead costume" with a frilly Mexican style shirt and a sombrero (I had also painted my face in the sugar skull style) and this women on the street started yelling at me and my parents that we were being "racist" but when I got to an actual Mexican house the woman who opened the door was absolutely thrilled! She started crying and said that it's so nice that people acknowledge the day of the dead! She then gave 6 of these really tasty sweet and spicy chilli bars (actually Mexican)

You know what, we shouldn't even bat an eyelid for this, there are a lot more important issues pressing our world than this, this is childs play compared to what accountability we are keeping adults in our governments too

That's because gypsies are considered filth in their home countries. Its so sad Gypsy children are not adopted because nobody wants them; the poor sweet babes. I was a gypsie 5 years for halloween as a kid. Loved playing dress up and allowing that has caused me to take an interest as an adult into the culture and has made me feel closer to the people.

I think the issue here may be the term "gypsy," rather than wearing the skirt. For many Roma, the word itself is a slur. As far as I'm aware (not an expert!) wearing the clothing isn't an issue unless it's done to mock.

For people to be upset with. To be clear.

It's not a slur to all of us Our family is Roma, and while some tribes/familes/people will take offense, others of us have taken the word back. c:

As someone who has gypsy blood, and as I have seen from others with the same heritage, we do not give a f**k.

Actually, Allison and Shasta, it does indeed refer to a race of people. Specifically the Romani, who hailed from the area now known as Punjab and a few areas around that. Romani speak several dialects, and the words Rom and Roma specifically refer to male and female members of their, (key point here), ethnic group. In that sense, it is indeed very much a racial slur. That said, capitalization matters, and the word gypsy has been used as a noun to describe a wanderer for decades. And to just lump the word into being an offensive slur is both ignorant of language, and just plain incorrect.

Lets just stop here for a second. rac·ism noun prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race. SO.. It's not Racist. Gypsies are from all cultures and from all over the world. Technically it's a cultural slur. Because they were looked poorly on as thieves and "unchristian" hence the term "I've been gypped" Gypsies were known as "Travelers" If we're going to get really technical. But racist would indicate that they were of one race or ethnicity. That is just untrue. because part of their appeal is that they are a mix of ethnic backgrounds. People from all over who formed a travelling family or families that didn't or couldn't settle for whatever reason. On a different note, My family is descended from Irish Gypsies and I use that term proudly. as does everyone I know who is a gypsy, or lives that kind of lifestyle. The only ones who consider it racist are those who don't know any better or haven't done their research on actual gypsy culture.

Tell that to Hitler, who rounded them up for slaughter during the Holocaust. http://www.crystalinks.com/romapeople.html

Now see, the original post here was no reason for anyone to be upset. But this is something for people to take issue with. The Romani have lots of history. Their languages have words (Rom, Roma) to describe males and females of their ethnic group. And people being ignorant of that is sad. Though technically, this is correct, since you said gypsy with a lower case G, which is invoking the noun, rather than the verb. I have my doubts that you typed this aware of the distinction however.