Commack High School Commack, New York
Vol. 22 Issue No. 2 November 2009
Costume choice falls into the 'gray'
By Jackie Salo, Editor in Chief
After dressing as the pancake
product icon "Aunt Jemima" for
Halloween, senior Dean Jeziorkowski
fell into the metaphoric 'gray area/
resulting in much debate and media
attention.
According Jeziorkowski, who has
dressed as a woman every year for
Halloween, he did not intend to have
a racist costume.
"For people to think that I'm rac-
ist is absolutely bogus," said Jezi-
orkowski, "the
thought of rac-
ism didn't even
cross my mind." "/ know a lot of students
The
Jemima charac-
Aunt
don't understand the
ter has been con-
troversial since it
was introduced
negative reaction to his
as the trademark
of the pancake
flour and syrup
brand.
According to Jeziorkowski, the
brand itself should be subject to
criticism over racial sensitivity rather
than his costume.
"Everyone knows what Aunt
Jemima is," said Jeziorkowski. "To
call my costume racist is to call
Quaker Oats racist, and that syrup
company racist."
The character of "Aunt Jemima"
was depicted as an African-American
"mammy" early in the brand's
history.
"It was originally created as a
figure to be connected with a baking
good," said social studies department
chairperson Matt Keltos. "The 'Aunt
Jemima' portion of it brings the
essence of slavery. In the 1890s
[when the icon was introduced] we
were still in the times of segregation
and times of Jim Crowe laws. We
were at a point where there was still
a separation of the races. The Aunt
Jemima character people look at
that as being a subservient person
to the whites in that time period. As
it developed over time it became less
like the old slave mammy and more
like a figure."
The idea of 'blackface' has also
played a role in the country's history
of racial tension.
"Blackface was used by whites
as part of minstrel shows and that
is where the idea came from. They
were used to extenuate certain
characteristics and to stereotype
them," said Keltos.
Jeziorkowski's costume has led
" —Psychologist Dr. John Kelly
students to debate as to whether or
not the costume should be considered
offensive.
"I'm not black, but I don't think I
would find it offensive though," said
senior Steven Sylvester.
Others argue as to whether or
not one should be accountable if they
were unaware of the image they were
giving off.
"I know a lot of students don't
understand the negative reaction to
his costume," said school psychologist
Dr. John Kelly, "I think that we have
to get to the point of not looking at
the costume, or the reaction of the
administration but more the context
of symbols that are in our world
everyday and how those symbols can
be racist to some people."
According to junior Arthur
Grygoryan, students should not be
punished if they were ignorant of the
image they were projecting.
"He [Jeziorkowski] is a bit of
a joker but he is an overall good
person," said junior Aaron Wilson, "I
don't think it was meant in any way
to be portrayed as racist."
The school policy follows a
procedure in which students are
required to wear costumes that are
appropriate and not offensive. If a
student were to not comply with
that they would be sent home. The
reminder "if it's gray, stay away" was
read to all students in Homeroom
classes prior to the Friday before
Halloween.
"If it is in the gray area, some-
__________ thing that we are
questioning, students
are told to stay away,"
said principal Russell
Stewart. If you are
unsure of a choice.
it is probabh- some-
thing thai you want
you probahh- want
to reconsider TOUT
was oka\~ two years ago •when
this black kid, Lamar, who I am
actually friends with, painted his face
white and dressed up as a nerd," said
Jeziorkowski,
In the last couple of years,
administration has had little difficulty
with the majority of costume choices.
Students have questioned
whether or not the school will ban
costumes on Halloween in order to
eliminate problems. For now. th:; :;
not the case.
"At the point in time
administration has no reservation
about changing anything we do here
at Commack High School in regards
to costumes on Halloween," said
Stewart.
According to Jeziorkowski,
ultimately he was not aware of the
racist connotations of his costume.
"I was going to be a ballerina,"
said Jeziorkowski-©