This week’s Superstore featured a high-stakes costume competition and a chance for the show to dive into the topic of cultural appropriation.
Superstore has always been able to make mountains out of molehills. It’s often what infuses the workplace comedy with its own signature brand of humor. But we doubt any series could tackle a problematic holiday like Halloween with the same wit and insightful commentary.
Look, we all love dressing up, playing characters, participating in that singular form of escapism that Halloween encourages, but over the years, the fun-loving holiday has morphed into something uglier than a Freddy Kreuger mask. We’ve got people wearing blackface, donning Native American headdresses, donning Swastika symbols. This idea of harmless make-believe has become a weapon against underserved communities and oppressed cultures.
Of course, some people may not see it that way. For some, blackface and other culturally appropriative costumes aren’t done maliciously. Maybe the person is just ignorant of history or maybe the rest of us are just too sensitive. It’s a hot-button issue we won’t have an answer for any time soon, which is why Superstore’s handling of cultural appropriation during Cloud 9’s Halloween costume competition lands so perfectly.
The show has never been the kind of series that likes to hold sermons during its half-hour time-slot. There’s rarely a moral lesson before the credits roll, or a clear-cut takeaway, a “this is where this show stands” kind of moment. Instead, Superstore carves out comedy from the grey areas, the murky waters muddled by its diverse characters who all bring a fresh viewpoint to any given issue.
Take the costume contest for example. We see Amy and Mateo take issue with other people’s outfits — Cheyenne’s offensive Hawaiian-themed coconut bra, Marcus’ Rasta-Man impression, an Aladdin look-alike, a guy with a banjo — not out of real concern for the people these costumes may offend but because they hope to weed out the competition. They succeed but their plan to point out how inappropriate the other costumes are backfires. The crusade against cultural appropriation results in the contest being canceled, which forces the two to relent a little on their hard-nosed stance so that the free vacation day stays in play.
SUPERSTORE — “Costume Competition” Episode 404 — Pictured: (l-r) Nico Santos as Mateo, America Ferrera as Amy — (Photo by: Eddy Chen/NBC)
So now, we’re given two sides to the debate from the same source. Amy and Mateo, who once argued against certain looks because they deemed them offensive — for good reason — are now forced to explain why they think that’s the case. When their explanation falls short, they back-pedal out of their own self-interest. We’re left still occupying that grey space. Sure, we can all agree that blackface and Nazi outfits aren’t cool, but what about a Mario costume or a Hula outfit? Those aren’t as easy to condemn.
Ultimately, the costume contest results in a few five-second history lessons on the cultures being appropriated. It’s a hilarious way to placate all sides but it also serves its own kind of lesson. More important than being politically correct is being educated on why you should be politically correct.
It’s not because people are “too sensitive” these days, or because we’re just looking to stir the pot. There are decades, sometimes centuries of pain and oppression and trauma left unchecked that can be unearthed with something as simple as a Halloween costume. And often, if you’re a person with privilege, the thought of hurting someone with the way you chose to dress seems ridiculous and incomprehensible because you don’t share that history, you don’t live in that culture or community being oppressed.
Of course, Halloween is just a holiday, costumes are just worn for fun, and Superstore knows how to bring the lightheartedness back into that kind of tense conversation. But the show leaves us with an important message, whether it meant to or not.
Superstore’s not going to tell you what costume you can wear for Halloween this year, but whatever you decide to be, do your research, try to honor the culture you’re representing or learn about the figure you’re impersonating. You’ll only be better off for it.