When we really take a moment to step back and think, it's easy to agree that Jesus had brown skin because he was from the Middle East. If that's the case, why is Christ so often depicted as white with light skin, hair, and eyes?

In this episode we uncover the roots of white Jesus, explain the impact this depiction has made on us and our communities, and discuss why it's important to use more accurate depictions of Christ in your home.

First Name Basis Patreon Community

Support First Name Basis and our mission to create anti-racist communities by joining our Patreon community! Members of our Patreon community come together once a month for a Q-and-A session or a Policy Party to learn more. For Q-and-A sessions, Patreon members ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. For Policy Parties, we invite community experts to help all of us take our values into our communities and make change to policies relevant to their area of expertise. Trust me, both of these added opportunities to learn are opportunities you don't want to miss! To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis.

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 24: "Cancel Culture Part 3: Removing Statues"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 15: "Diversity & Inclusion In LDS Art"

"Where Did 'White Jesus' Come From?" On the Media podcast

"'Color of Christ': A Story of Race and Religion in America," Terry Gross interview with Edward Blum, NPR

"How Jesus Became White And Why It's Time To Cancel That" by Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service

"What's The Difference Between Puritans and Pilgrims?" by Dave Roos, History.com

"The Harlem Renaissance," History.com

"Colonel Henry Stanley Todd, The Priory, and the Nazarene" by Claudia S. Fortunato

Psychologist Simon Howard from Marquette University

"Dylann Roof Appeals Death Penalty in South Carolina Church Massacre" The Associated Press

"Archaeologists In Turkey Believe They Are Digging Up The Original Santa Claus," by Ephrat Livni. Quartz

Megyn Kelly: Jesus & Santa Are White

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

We all know that 2020 was a wake-up call for a lot of people. It was a time of reflection, a time of change (hopefully), and a time where schools all over seemed to prioritize inclusion by drafting diversity statements.

But here we are in 2022, and I find myself asking: Have the diversity statements made a difference?

It's not enough for a school to just have a diversity statement up on its website — administrators, teachers, parents and students must be doing the work to make sure the values in that statement are actually reflected in how the school is run.

Dr. Renata Williams knows first hand what it's like to help a school turn a diversity statement into a reality, and she came onto the podcast this week to help us learn how we can help our schools do the same.

Dr. Williams is an education administrator with over a decade of experience who is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania — the first person to hold this position at the school. She's worked with administrators at the school to design a comprehensive strategic diversity, equity and inclusion plan for everyone from faculty to students.

In this episode, Dr. Williams helps us understand:

• How we can help teachers feel supported as they integrate anti-racism curriculum into their teaching.
• How to embrace and foster students' budding activism.
• How parents, teachers and administrators can work together to make diversity statements have real impact at a school.
• The value outside experts can bring into helping a school prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion.

Invite Jasmine to speak at your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource.

Head to firstnamebasis.org/speaking or email [email protected] for more information!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 6: "Age Appropriate Anti-Racism"

Get in touch with Dr. Williams at [email protected]

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

I made my "Untold Story of Thanksgiving" episode to help me — and hopefully you — understand the true, accurate history. As I think about the episode, I think it does a good job at correcting the history, but it still centers on the colonizers.

Because of that, I've been thinking a lot about how I can better make Indigenous Peoples the center of our conversations and learning around Thanksgiving, and I knew just the right person to turn to to help me.

On this week's episode, my dear friend Jalynne Geddes joins me to help unpack what we can do to center Indigenous Peoples. Jalynne is Nehiyaw from the Beardy's and Okemasis Cree Nation and is the creator behind the Nehiyanahk Creations on Instagram, where she shares her work as an activist both through words and through her beautiful beadwork.

In this episode, you'll learn more about how our Indigenous brothers and sisters feel about Thanksgiving, how to center them during this time and how we can teach our kids about this as well.

I hope by the end of this you have a clear understanding of what you can do in your family to decenter colonizers and instead give your focus to Indigenous Peoples this Thanksgiving.

Check out our Thanksgiving resources

Thanksgiving is this week, and we have a gaggle of free resources for you!

Want some ideas for how to talk to your kids' teachers about teaching Thanksgiving in an inclusive, Indigenous-centered way? Head to firstnamebasis.org/teachingthanksgiving for some sample letters and a free download that you can send to teachers to get the conversation going!

Looking for ways to center Indigenous Peoples' in your family's Thanksgiving celebration? Head to firstnamebasis.org/thanksgiving to get some ideas sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3: "The Untold Story of Thanksgiving"

Jalynne Geddes' Instagram @nehiyanahk_creations

Mark Ruffalo's land acknowledgement at the Emmy's

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Have y'all ever driven down the East Coast? I don't mean to spoil the magic for you but I gotta say, it's basically a straight shot through a wall of trees. So I was pretty excited when I noticed a few colorful billboards dotting my path. That excitement quickly turned to disgust when I realized that those billboards were super-duper racist.

These billboards not only appropriated Mexican culture but also used broken English and made fun of Mexican accents. Yikes.

In this episode we break down linguistic racism and dig deep into what it looks like and what we can do about it.

Press play to learn:

• What linguistic racism looks like.
• The detrimental effects of linguistic racism.
• Why it's so important to talk to our children about unfamiliar accents.
• Concrete ways to introduce unfamiliar accents to our children and fight linguistic racism.

Join us for a Policy Party

You know what anti-racism looks like in your home, now let's take it into our communities! Join us for a Policy Party on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. ET, where Lindsay Dusard will talk to us about refugee allyship!

At each Policy Party, we hang out over Zoom with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and policies relevant to their area of expertise. Each party focuses on a different subject — anything from immigration to environmental justice and more! You'll leave each party with specific actionable steps you can take to make your community more compassionate, inclusive and anti-racist.

My friend Lindsay will join us to discuss how we can be better allies to members of the refugee community. She has worked in refugee resettlement for over eight years and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where her work focuses on understanding factors related to refugee and immigrant students' sense of belonging, wel-lbeing and success in the U.S. school system.

First Name Basis Patreon members will receive free admission, or you can purchase a one-time Policy Party ticket at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty. If you can't attend the Policy Party, replays are also available with admission.

Check out our Thanksgiving resources

Thanksgiving is next week, and we have a gaggle of free resources for you — including multiple episodes, sample letters to send your kiddos' teachers and resources you can use in your home!

Want some ideas for how to talk to your kids' teachers about teaching Thanksgiving in an inclusive, Indigenous-centered way? Head to firstnamebasis.org/teachingthanksgiving for some sample letters and a free download that you can send to teachers to get the conversation going!

Looking for ways to center Indigenous Peoples' in your family's Thanksgiving celebration? Head to firstnamebasis.org/thanksgiving to get some ideas sent straight to your inbox!

Looking to learn more about how to celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that reflects the true history? Check out all of Thanksgiving episodes:

• Season 1, Episode 13: "The Untold Story of Thanksgiving"
• Season 1, Episode 14: "How to Teach Your Children About Thanksgiving"
• Season 4, Episode 13: "How to Center Indigenous Peoples During Thanksgiving"

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Please note I am not linking Pedro's South of the Border because I do not want to drive traffic to their site.

"This S.C. Roadside Attraction is Garish, Tacky and Un-PC — But I Stopped Anyway" by Maura Judkis, Washington Post

"The Pervasive Problem of 'Linguistic Racism'", BBC

"The Reason You Discriminate Against Foreign Accents Starts With What They Do to Your Brain" by Michael Erard, Quartz

"Everyone Has an Accent" by Walt Wolfram, Learning for Justice

"Voices of North Carolina Dialect Awareness Curriculum", North Carolina State University

"What is Critical Language Awareness?" Annamend

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

To say I'm obsessed with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho's novel "The Silence That Binds Us" is an understatement.

Yes, it's a book technically written for young adults, but it's also one adults need to read — because not only is it a beautiful story of grief, but it is also an impactful story about anti-racism.

I had the privilege of interviewing Joanna recently and talking to her about "The Silence That Binds Us" and specifically the lessons it teaches about Black and Asian solidarity. And just as much as "The Silence That Binds Us" is a book you don't want to miss, this interview is one you'll want to tune into as well!

In this episode, Joanna and I discuss:

• Her process in writing "The Silence That Binds Us."
• What Black and Asian solidarity looks like.
• The power of stories in anti-racism work.
• What we can do about book banning in our communities.

Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author "Eyes that Kiss in the Corners" and "Eyes that Speak to the Stars." She has extensive experience as an educator (she's previously worked as an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, a creator of educator professional development, and a high school vice principal) and is passionate about anti-bias and anti-racism work. Joanna lives in the Bay Area where she enjoys chocolate chip cookies, being outside and having dance parties with her two kiddos.

Join us for a Policy Party

You know what anti-racism looks like in your home, now let's take it into our communities! Join us for a Policy Party on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. ET, where Lindsay Dusard will talk to us about refugee allyship!

At each Policy Party, we hang out over Zoom with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and policies relevant to their area of expertise. Each party focuses on a different subject — anything from immigration to environmental justice and more! You'll leave each party with specific actionable steps you can take to make your community more compassionate, inclusive and anti-racist.

My friend Lindsay will join us to discuss how we can be better allies to members of the refugee community. She has worked in refugee resettlement for over eight years and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where her work focuses on understanding factors related to refugee and immigrant students' sense of belonging, wel-lbeing and success in the U.S. school system.

First Name Basis Patreon members will receive free admission, or you can purchase a one-time Policy Party ticket at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty. If you can't attend the Policy Party, replays are also available with admission.

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

Joanna Ho's website

Joanna Ho's Instagram account @joannahowrites

Learn more about "The Silence That Binds Us"

Pre-order Joanna's upcoming children's book "One Day"

Pen America, which has reports about book bans in America and ideas about what you can do to help stop the bans

We Need Diverse Books, which advocates for diversity and representation in children's literature.

Joanna Ho's books

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

If you've been around a while, you've heard me say it hundreds of times: Race is a social construct.

Race was created and has always been manipulated to make sure that the people in the dominant culture — in the U.S., that means people who are white, middle class, Christian, male and cisgender — can maintain power.

History is full of examples of this, but we don't need to only look to the past to see it happening — it happens all the time, right now, in our own communities, and one current example is the fight to restrict Black voting power.

I'm sharing my thoughts about this in today's episode, "Real Quick: Black Voting Power," which is the second episode in our new Real Quick series!

You know when you're talking to someone and the conversation is about to wrap up but there's one more thing you want to say before you part ways so you say, "Real quick, ____"? There are lots of things I want to say or wish I could add that don't quite fit in an episode or qualify as a full episode on their own, so this Real Quick series is my way of sharing those thoughts with you.

Whenever we have a Real Quick episode, you can plan on getting two mini-episodes that week. If you missed our first Real Quick episode that was released on Tuesday, don't forget to also check it out!

Get your Voting Action Plan

Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you're voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media.

We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: "How to Become an Informed Voter"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 11: "Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 1:"Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: Blood Quantum and the One Drop Rule"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: "What is Privilege And What Do I Do About It?"

"Who counts as Black in voting maps? Some GOP state officials want that narrowed," by Hansi Lo Wang, NPR

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Politicians need experience to do their job.

This may fall under the "unpopular opinion" category to some people, but it's something I feel strongly about and have been thinking about for a while.

You wouldn't want someone who played a surgeon on TV — but didn't actually go to medical school — to perform surgery on you. So why would you want someone with no experience or training in politics to be your elected official, especially when we're talking about a position with as much power as the President of the United States?

I'm sharing my thoughts about this in today's episode, "Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience," which is the first in our new Real Quick series!

You know when you're talking to someone and the conversation is about to wrap up but there's one more thing you want to say before you part ways so you say, "Real quick, ____"? There are lots of things I want to say or wish I could add that don't quite fit in an episode or qualify as a full episode on their own, so this Real Quick series is my way of sharing those thoughts with you.

Whenever we have a Real Quick episode, you can plan on getting two mini-episodes that week, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, so be on the lookout later this week for another small dose of the First Name Basis Podcast!

Get your Voting Action Plan

Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you're voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media.

We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: "How to Become an Informed Voter"

"How Much Political Experience Does It Take to Be Elected President?" by Maggie Astor and Alicia Parlapiano, The New York Times

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

When the team here at First Name Basis was doing the research for our recent episode "Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance," we came across the story of the Tammany Society — and we knew right away that story was too wild not to share!

The Tammany Society — also known as the Tammany Hall or the Columbian Order — was organized in the late 1780s right alongside the founding of the United States. It was a group of white men who were influencing the politics in New York at the time and then spread out geographically from there.

Their story is one rampant with cultural appropriation that directly relates to injustices and racism we still see in this country today. And to make the story even more bonkers, one of the most notable members of the society is someone who has become a household name in recent years.

"Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?"

The twists, turns and wild connections in this story are something you're not going to want to miss. In this episode, we'll tell you more about:

• The origins of the Tammany Society.
• How it's creation was in response to the creation of the Society of the Cincinnati (Spoiler alert: Alexander Hamilton enters in the story here too)
• The Tammany Society's many instances of appropriation of Indigenous culture.
• A look at a specific example of the Tammany Society's appropriation that we still see today (Spoiler alert #2: It's the Atlanta Braves)

Get your Voting Action Plan

Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you're voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media.

We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote your to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox!

Get your FREE Halloween costume download

Let us help you avoid cultural appropriation this Halloween with this FREE DOWNLOAD! We've created a printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the "cultural appropriation" category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: "How to Become an Informed Voter"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 8: "Culture Is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 16: "How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 1: "Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 2: "Real Talk: Cultural Appropriation and White Supremacy"

"Tammany Hall," Britannica

"Tammany Hall Braves Honor Nation's Birth: Dedicate New Wigwam as Part of Tradition to Celebrate Fourth," July 5, 1929, news article

"Sachems & Sinners An Informal History of Tammany Hall," Time

"The History of Tammany Hall," by Gustavus Myers

"Native Americas: Tribal Leaders: Head Chief Tamanend the Affable of the Lenape," The History Files

"The Cincinnati: A Society That's In the Blood," by Tim Page, Washington Post

"Society of the Cincinnati," Wikipedia

Society of the Cincinnati website

Applying for Membership, The Society of the Cincinnati website

"Alexander Hamilton's American Revolution," The American Revolution Institute

"Surrogate Americans: Masculinity, Masquerade, and the Formation of a National Identity," Carroll Smith-Rosenberg

"Society of St. Tammany," Encyclopedia.org

"Sachem," Online Etymology Dictionary

"Tammany Hall," Wikipedia

"Fraternal Purpose In The Establishment Of Tammany's 'American Museum,'" Timothy Winkle

"The Timeline History of Celebrating (and Not Celebrating) Columbus Day," by Rebeca Coleman, Smithsonian Magazine

"Tammany: The Indian as Rhetorical Surrogate," Alan Leander MacGregor

"Becoming the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves," by Bill Felber, Call to the Pen

"Ward Wants His Team to be Called the 'Boston Braves,'" Boston Globe article from Dec. 21, 1911

First Name Basis Untold Stories Episodes

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 13: "The Untold Story of Thanksgiving"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 1: "The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: "The Untold Story of Dr. Seuss"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 7: "The Untold Story of Rosa Parks"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 14: "The Untold Story of Fried Chicken"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 7: "The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 8: "The Untold Story of the Star Spangled Banner"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 7: "Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance"

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

One of the biggest messages we're trying to get across with First Name Basis is that learning a person's story and getting to know them as an individual is the best way to create understanding and foster anti-racist, inclusive communities. Heck, it's such an important concept that it's our name!

Getting on a first name basis with people has so much power, and it's one of the things that made me want to watch the new documentary "Defining Us: Children at the Crossroads of Change."

Did you know that race is the #1 predictor of whether a student will be successful in the educational system? And according to "Defining Us," almost 50 million children attend public schools in the U.S. and more than half are students of color.

"Defining Us" goes beyond the statistics to tell the stories of BIPOC students in Los Angeles and New York — the country's two biggest school districts — and interviews experts on the topic of race and education.

This week on the First Name Basis Podcast, I interviewed Paul Forbes and Stacey DeWitt about their work on "Defining Us."

Paul Forbes is one of the film's executive producers, director of partnerships and one of the experts featured in "Defining Us." He is an anti-bias and educational equity consultant who worked in the New York City Department of education for more than 20 years and has worked for years on equity initiatives and training educators and administrators on bias, culturally responsive education and discussions about systemic racism.

Stacey DeWitt is the director and an executive producer of "Defining Us." She is an Emmy Award-winning producer, journalist and attorney who has produced over 65 documentaries, many of them focused on children and families. She is deeply committed to the power of storytelling through video and how those stories can create change.

In our interview, we discuss:

• How the documentary came to be.
• How teachers and students can engage in conversations about race.
• The impact of systemic racism on education.
• The power of video in storytelling.

Join First Name Basis on Patreon

Support First Name Basis and our mission to create anti-racist communities by joining our Patreon community! Members of our Patreon community come together once a month for a Q-and-A session or a Policy Party to learn more. For Q-and-A sessions, Patreon members ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. For Policy Parties, we invite community experts to help all of us take our values into our communities and make change to policies relevant to their area of expertise. Trust me, both of these added opportunities to learn are opportunities you don't want to miss! To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis. And don't wait! Our next Q-and-A is Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET!

Get your FREE Halloween costume download

Let us help you avoid cultural appropriation this Halloween with this FREE DOWNLOAD! We've created a printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the "cultural appropriation" category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

Watch the "Defining Us" trailer

"Defining Us" website

"Defining Us" on Instagram

"Defining Us" on Facebook

Where to watch "Defining Us"

Paul Forbes' company, Leading With Hearts and Minds

Stacey DeWitt's company, CWK Network

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner?

I know some of you super-prepared parents out there are already getting costumes put together for your kiddos, and you may be wondering about cultural appropriation as you're looking through the shelves and online at all the costume options.

I get asked all the time about how to avoid cultural appropriation with Halloween costumes, so this week, I'm bringing you TWO resources to help you as you navigate finding costumes for you and your kiddos.

First is my podcast episode titled "Culture is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween," which is a one-stop shop for you to get all of your costume questions answered.

In the episode, you will learn about:

• Indigenous appropriation on Halloween and how these costumes put Indigenous women in danger.
• How you can avoid appropriation in Halloween costumes.
• When it is appropriate to wear cultural artifacts.

Second is a free printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the "cultural appropriation" category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast: Season 3, Episode 1: "Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered"

"These costumes objectify Native American women. Retailers won't stop selling them" by Nadra Nittle, Vox

"Our Society Can Never Really Eradicate Patriarchy or Sexual Violence When We Permit Violence Against Indigenous Women," by Dani M., Wear Your Voice

"Yandy Responds to New Times Article, Says Costumes 'Pay Homage' to Native Americans" by Molly Longman, Phoenix New Times

"Yandy Finally Got Rid Of An Offensive Costume. So Why Are Some Protesters Still Angry?" by Molly Longman, Refinery29

"How to dress your Pākehā child up as Maui or Moana without appropriating Pasifika culture" by Emmaline Matagi, The Spinoff

"Please don't tell your kids they can't dress as Moana this Halloween" by Preeti Varathan, Quartz

"PSA: Don't Let Your Kid Dress Up In These Costumes" by Rachel Garlinghouse, Scary Mommy

"Why Your White Kid Probably Shouldn't Dress Up As Moana For Halloween" by Eden Hagos, Today's Parent

Little Koto's Closet Blog

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN