Someone in our neighborhood (who clearly loves Halloween) put up a huge amount of decorations, including one of a man hanging by his neck with his hands tied behind his back. While I suspect that this neighbor had no ill intentions, an image like that is not appropriate, especially in the South. We put this letter in their mailbox with our names and address, heres hoping we dont get a brick through the window. Hello neighbors, We’re writing to ask you to consider changing or taking down your Halloween decoration with the guy hanging from the noose. While we appreciate your artistry and creativity, as well as your enthusiasm for the holiday, that image is a pretty incendiary one in the South. In part, it’s a matter of having an understanding of history: As you are a scant block or so from a middle school and a high school whose students are predominantly African-American, this imagery could be really disturbing to a lot of kids. Not too many decades ago, lynchings took place in this very neighborhood as well as throughout the South. Moreover, people who have loved ones who committed suicide in this way (as did one of our relatives) could be quite upset at seeing this thing hanging in your yard. I’m sure it’s not your intent to genuinely upset people with this, but that can be the result. We respectfully urge you to reconsider this particular element in your Halloween decorations. Thanks for your consideration.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 00:57:17 +0000
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