No Stupid Questions

I wouldn’t. What I would do instead is make convincing-looking burn scars.

I used to be really into cosplay and the cosplay community and these kinds of questions about makeup and skin color would come up regularly. And without fail, the consensus always ends up being that it's a bad idea. The rule tends to be that you shouldn't change your skin color unless it's a fantasy color like purple, green, etc. It very likely will be offensive to someone. If you're okay with offending people, that's your choice to make. But if you do this, especially at a convention or if you post it online, there will very likely be people who are bothered by it. The fact that you felt the need to ask usually means that there will be at least a few people bothered by this.

This is a bit of an atypical situation though since you're black and you're portraying the character as black. You're not portraying a different race than your own. I think that's what bothers most people. Especially if it's white people mimicking a different race.

But although this isn't mimicking a different race, it is mimicking a real skin condition that people can be born with and it can be a struggle for them. People may see that as insensitive to their struggle.

Personally, I don't think your costume idea is a major offense, and you probably won't get too much backlash for it, especially considering that you are portraying yourself as your own race. But some people will definitely see it as an offense. If you don't post it online, and you're not going to a huge convention, it might not be an issue for you at all.

But if I was a person with vitilligo, I might be a lot more upset by it, especially considering that the character is a horror character meant to be scary to look at. Imagine having this disorder and running into someone at a convention who is wearing the thing you're insecure about to look scary. It might be a bit hurtful and make them feel worse about their condition if it's something they struggle with or have been bullied for.

Unrelated to your issue, but I saw another comment in this thread saying that portraying black characters as a cosplay is different than doing Vaudeville-style blackface, but most people in the cosplay community would disagree with that. Nobody has a problem with people playing characters who are a different race than the cosplayer, but the consensus tends to be that you shouldn't change your skin color to do it. It's heavily discouraged. "I can't take off my race at the end of the day" is something I've heard from black cosplayers a lot when this discussion comes up.

I've seen white people cosplay black characters in full makeup at conventions and it doesn't go well. A white woman cosplaying Michonne From The Walking Dead in full makeup was the talk of a con I went to once. Lots of "oh my god, did you see that? Why would she think that's a good idea?" Changing skin color makeup is definitely a big deal in the cosplay community, and a lot of people have zero tolerance for it, even for this kind of thing.

Anyway, this has gotten very long. I'm not going to tell you what I think you should do, but I wanted to share my experiences with this. I don't think your intentions are hurtful. But if you choose to do the costume, you need to be okay with the fact that it will very likely offend or be hurtful to some people who see any skin tone changing as completely unacceptable. Consider where you'll be wearing it and the kind of people who might be there and make a decision from there. I don't think it's really very offensive, but I'm a white woman and I don't have vitiligo so I can't speak for everyone. I have a few mixed feelings on the issue, because it's complicated. But personally I would rather avoid doing something potentially hurtful, even if it's unlikely to happen, than risk upsetting someone or making them feel bad about themselves because of what I chose to do.

I hope that helps you make your decision, and I wish you good luck no matter what you decide.

I have vitaligo. I'm just one person, but I wouldn't care. Though, perhaps I'm not the best person to ask. Sometimes I forget about it until someone else makes an awkward comment. Personally, I think it's kinda cool.

I think it sounds like a cool spin on the character and you should do it. You're not faking vitiligo, you're faking burns, and I agree with your assessment that skin will look like that while healing... chances of anyone getting upset about this seems low.

I know who I am! I'm a dude playing the dude, disguised as another dude!!

If it's true to the character the I don't see a problem with it. The whole issue with things like blackface is more of an issue with stereotypes and racial profiling that are typically associated with it. This isn't a race thing, so I don't see that being a problem here. You're just cosplaying a character you like.

You're playing a character with burn scars. Yes, you should use burn makeup. End of story.

Think about it this way - it's okay this year.

Hi, I'm white and autistic. I think that's a really cool idea!

If you're worried people might get the wrong idea, you could attenuate the scars with a red edge or something to make it look more like a scar/wound

I tend to be pretty sensitive about that kind of thing, and it doesn't get my hackles up at all. Not familiar with the character though either. If there are people who you can trust, do a test run of the cosplay and show them pictures, see how they feel. It's going to depend on the exact vibes, yanno?

I think you're OK as long as you're genuine and respectful. It sounds like you're interested in this character and share your interest in the story with others (so they can be in on your fun too). Go for it, it's your life :)

I mean, let's think less about the world at large and think about the audience in particular for your costume. Do the people who are going to see your costume, them specifically, are they going to get upset if you don't quite nail the line between scar tissue and vitiligo? Or are they going to give you high fives on your awesome costume and makeup job? (I think it's gonna be the second one, just personally but you would know better than me)

Edit:also please let us see the finished version I love halloween and costume stuff

Yes

You can get a white friend to do a side-character of a person that ran away from the fire getting charred.

Maybe it'll turn into that one scrubs flashback

Just do it subtly enough that you notice the character first and the vitiligo second.

I wouldn't, that's for sure.

My mom has vitiligo and this doesn't seem like it offensive, since it is part of a larger costume. Probably ok at a costume party with close friends or in a play.

I feel like if you're unsure enough to ask the Internet about something like this, the safest bet is to just not do it.

Sounds like you're gonna do it anyway, tho, so good luck.

Are you trying to make it look like vitiligo or just make your face super pale? If you make it look super pale and uniform I don't think anyone is going to question it.