# Halloween Display Called "Racially Charged Symbol Of Hate" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392 "2004-10-21T12:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/21 "2004-10-21T18:12:57Z")
I mean, that poor 15 year old probably came home, drank some milk, was like , “whatever” and watched TV. _makes vow to read article before posting next time_ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/22 "2004-10-22T00:19:39Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > **[Total hijack]** > You lucky bastard! Where were you staying? My family has a cabin up there, but since I live in MN, I don’t get there nearly as often as I’d like. It’s may favorite place in the world.[/Total hijack] > > OK, carry on. I didn’t stay. I was making a sales call to some people who want an automatic deer gate. I designed an arched single swing picket gate with a pair of large heron silhouettes facing each other. (Heh. A co-worker asked if I’d used clip-art for the herons. Ha!) Worked up an estimate today and passed it to the boss for approval. I missed the 11:00 ferry, so I hung out for two hours. First, I went to find some lunch. Ended up going to the Love Dog. I was jonzin’ for a BLT, but they didn’t have it on the menu. They made it for me anyway (on “homemade” sourdough with organig veg). I put a buck and a half in the honour box at the ferry terminal and picked up a couple of used paperbacks for 75 cents each (_Ops Center_ and _Day of the Jackal_). Getting back to the thread: I thought of a Hallowe’en costume. I have a full-head pig mask with an open chin so that the wearer’s mouth and chin are exposed. Looks really good. I figure I can wear a suit and be a Republican. Scary! :eek: Now if only I could get a sash that says “HALIBURTON”… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/23 "2004-10-22T01:29:39Z")
I think we’re being a bit too harsh about this. A black guy went past the house and saw what appeared to be a black-faced mannequin hanging by its neck in the front yard. Is it suprising that he jumped to the conclusion of “lynching”? Obviously, he understood it was Halloween, but if I saw a black guy hanging by the neck, I’d be pretty damn surprised myself, and I think I’d jump to the same conclusion. The intelligent thing would have been to knock on his neighbour’s door and explain how the mannequin could have been considered offensive, not to break it apart. But this isn’t political correctness run wild, but a few people offended by something that could have easily been taken the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/24 "2004-10-22T01:52:58Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > I think we’re being a bit too harsh about this. A black guy went past the house and saw what appeared to be a black-faced mannequin hanging by its neck in the front yard. Is it suprising that he jumped to the conclusion of “lynching”? Obviously, he understood it was Halloween, but if I saw a black guy hanging by the neck, I’d be pretty damn surprised myself, and I think I’d jump to the same conclusion. Well, yeah, but, Christ–you’re _Atticus Finch!_ ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/25 "2004-10-22T02:19:03Z")
> [@Steve MB](#): > > Well, gee, maybe that’s because **THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS GHOULS**. At least not in Florida. Boston, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/26 "2004-10-22T02:21:37Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > I’m personally shocked and offended by this “decoration”. Picture the poor child of a Frankenstein’s monster and a wolfman, who has to put up with all the discrimination of being a monster in a world where humans have all the advantages, plus facing the special challenge of being the offspring of a mixed marriage. This child has burdens enough to bear, but to see this hatefilled display is too much for anyone. Pity the poor Frankenwolf. Eddie Munster? Wait…No, his mother was a vampire. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/27 "2004-10-22T02:31:44Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > The intelligent thing would have been to knock on his neighbour’s door and explain how the mannequin could have been considered offensive, not to break it apart. But this isn’t political correctness run wild, but a few people offended by something that could have easily been taken the wrong way. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have just gone strolling up to the door to show the people the error of their ways. Especially a black guy. If someone has recreated a lynching in their front yard they just might have planned to be offensive. Of course this guy’s response was very stupid and potentially dangerous too. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/28 "2004-10-22T05:06:16Z")
> [@Omega Glory](#): > > I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have just gone strolling up to the door to show the people the error of their ways. Especially a black guy. If someone has recreated a lynching in their front yard they just might have planned to be offensive. Of course this guy’s response was very stupid and potentially dangerous too. I assume that the black guy thought it wasn’t an intentional Klan-style fake lynching, but merely that it could give the wrong impression. Thus, I don’t think he was ever in any danger, or could reasonably have believed that he would be in danger, and so there wasn’t really anything stopping him from knocking on the neighbour’s door. (Does that make sense?) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/29 "2004-10-22T05:25:00Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > I assume that the black guy thought it wasn’t an intentional Klan-style fake lynching, but merely that it could give the wrong impression. That’s not how the story makes it sound at all. Problem is that you sound like a reasonable person, which puts you at a disadvantage in this case. > [@article](#): > > Yeshitela said he would do it all again, even if it meant going onto private property. “The issue of private property holds no special mystique,” he said. “We have been private property as a people.” Is this guy saying his ancestors used to be somebody’s lawn? > [@article](#): > > Watson told police she did not want to prosecute anyone. On Tuesday, she called Yeshitela and apologized. He accepted. I think the wrong person apologized in this story. ---
**Author:** ![MrPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@MrPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrPeabody)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/30 "2004-10-22T05:56:12Z")
This guy is a fool. If he had let himself on my land and destroyed my holiday display I would press charges so quickly it would make your head spin. I would try to make him understand this is not how we handle things we don’t like in America. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/31 "2004-10-22T06:31:16Z")
I’m not sure if you guys realize this, but there _are_ Klansmen in Florida. Not lots, but I’ll give you three guesses where Springer finds his (except that Jeff Berry guy). There’s a Klan meeting house about a mile from my house. As much as it may seem like this guy overreacted, I can understand his fear. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/32 "2004-10-22T09:19:14Z")
How the devil do you mistake a Frankenstein mask for a “black guy” face? You’d think the bolt-neck would kind of be a tipoff…not to mention that half the Frankenstein masks out there are either chalk-white or _green_. Did they accidentally use a [“Blackenstein”](http://www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/misc/marathons/marathonart/soulcinema/blackenstein.jpg) mask, or something? :smack: What would happen if you put up a [Blacula manequin, in full costume, in a coffin with a stake in his heart?](http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/holly/b/blacula2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/33 "2004-10-22T12:13:52Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > Thus, I don’t think he was ever in any danger, or could reasonably have believed that he would be in danger, and so there wasn’t really anything stopping him from knocking on the neighbour’s door. (Does that make sense?) There are a lot of frightened, irrational people in this country. A few years ago a Japanese foreign exchange student was shot to death while trick-or-treating because the homeowner thought (he claimed) that the kid was trying to break into his house to rob him. Once I was thinking about getting a VW Jetta. There was one parked in front of me, and I wanted to ask the owner how she liked it. Before I could say anything she freaked and shouted, “GOODBYE! GOODBYE! GOODBYE!” This is in broad daylight in a crowded car park. Loads of people seem to live in fear, and it’s usually not a smart move to knock on their doors. Too many nutters. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/34 "2004-10-22T12:36:59Z")
While I agree that the hanging was in bad taste, those people should’ve been arrested for trespassing. Letting themselves get so worked up over something _unintentional_ was perhaps the result of mob mentality? They could’ve handled it a lot better. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/35 "2004-10-22T12:53:01Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Did they accidentally use a [“Blackenstein”](http://www.badmovieplanet.com/3btheater/misc/marathons/marathonart/soulcinema/blackenstein.jpg) mask, or something? :smack: > > What would happen if you put up a [Blacula manequin, in full costume, in a coffin with a stake in his heart?](http://www.thehotspotonline.com/moviespot/holly/b/blacula2.jpg) I WAS going to set up a “Blunchblack Of Blotre Blame” display on my lawn this Halloween, but I guess that’s probably not such a great idea… ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/36 "2004-10-22T13:24:01Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > I assume that the black guy thought it wasn’t an intentional Klan-style fake lynching, but merely that it could give the wrong impression. Thus, I don’t think he was ever in any danger, or could reasonably have believed that he would be in danger, and so there wasn’t really anything stopping him from knocking on the neighbour’s door. (Does that make sense?) I can see where you’re coming from, and it’s a reasonable position, except that the guy went crazy and ripped the thing down. People don’t do that when they think that there’s been an honest mistake made. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/37 "2004-10-22T19:38:13Z")
America most certainly does not have a history of killing ghouls. [Israel, on the other hand…](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20041021/wl_nm/mideast_hamas_dead_dc) > [@](#): > > a missile from an Israeli drone slammed into a vehicle and killed Adnan al-Ghoul, a senior Hamas leader and master bombmaker for the Islamic militant group who has been on Israel’s most wanted list since 1987. I just hope it was a silver or +1 missile. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/38 "2004-10-22T19:51:32Z")
I guess they beat Batman to the punch on getting that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@Live\_Better\_Electrically](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Live_Better_Electrically)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/39 "2004-10-22T21:47:20Z")
I can’t pass judgment on this story until I hear the story of Frankenwolf. What heinous deeds might this unholy creature have committed before he was hung? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392/40 "2004-10-22T22:20:09Z")
I’m saddened by the way so many people continue to use the term “ghoul” in casual conversation. They prefer to be called necrophages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-display-called-racially-charged-symbol-of-hate/270392.md?page=3)