Racism With Cosplay

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by DackyDoge

by DackyDoge

*sigh* do I really have to explain this. Oh well.

So this topic is kinda touchy, especially people like me. Anyway STORY TIME!!

Last year my cousins in Nigeria wanted to go to an anime convention. My 10yr old cousin wanted to dress up as a character but he was upset about something. I asked him what and do you know what he said? He said;

"I want to dress up as an anime character but I can't because they don't have the same skin as me."
My reaction: 0_0. Ohhhhhhh noooooooo
I am sooooo uncomfortable with this subject because I'm so surprised that this is an actual issue.
Sure I understand that there are not a lot of dark skinned characters in anime but that shouldn't stop you from having FUN.
Say for instance, you are the only black guy in a group of friends and you wanted to do a Kill la Kill cosplay. So they INSTANTLY assign you as Gamagoori. This may not be a problem if your favourite character is Gamagoori. But what if you really really wanted to be Aikuro, well they might say;
"Oh I think Gamagoori is the best option." They won't actually say it to your face that you can't cosplay as him, but they are slightly hinting it.

Or if you have awesome friends, they'll allow you and won't judge.

This absolutely sucks because I thought racism was done for. ITS 2016 FOR GODS SAKE LEAVE THAT SH!T BACK IN THE 1930s.
I decided to do some research on a person who has also had a similar experience. A black girl wanted to cosplay as Elsa, so she did. But at the convention one man had the audacity to say.
"Oh look, a black Elsa."
0-0. WHAT THE ACTUAL FÜCK. THIS GUY NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED SOME MORE. If I wanted to cosplay as someone, I am damn well cosplaying as that person, and I don't give a damn on what anyone says concerning my skin tone. IT. SHOULDN'T. MATTER.
IF I WANNA DRESS UP AS EREN JÄGER, I AM DRESSING UP AS HIM.
IF I WANNA COSPLAY AS YUKINE, I DAMM WELL AM.
The same goes with everyone of all races, don't let a characters skin colour stop you from having fun, because that's one of the main reasons on why people cosplay. TO HAVE FUN.
anyway
After I had educated my cousin on this topic, he finally understood an I heard he had a great time which I am very happy to hear about.
I hope I enlightened you all on this \(^.^)/

SAYONARA PEEPS. (JEEZUS I am cringy)