As a society, should we be concerned it is considered more offensive to dress up as a murderer than in a way (black face) that demonstrates the racism experienced by a people for over 200 years? In case you were unaware, blacks were not allowed to appear in productions so white people would paint themselves black with exaggerated features and proceed to act in ways that aligned their black character with propaganda. In conclusion, certain costumes may cause your friends to shun you. Luckily, the zombie look is a safe bet.