To check in with our North American comrades, we’re sharing some counter-arguments that may come in handy the next time you’re at a music festival or fancy dress party and see someone in a head-dress and face-paint.

As part of the on-going campaigns against US sports teams using the image of Native Americans as their mascots, such as the Washington Redskins, the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians, Taté Walker has produced a comprehensive list of responses to idiotic justifications such as “This mascot honors Natives” or “You’re being too sensitive.” The use of indigenous peoples in this insensitive and capitalist manner can (unfortunately) also be found within the fashion and music industries, although the campaign against it has been gaining more and more ground in the last few years. The full list of counter-arguments can be found on the Everyday Feminism website.

For similar counter arguments for more general forms of racist imagery, check out ERIF’s FAQs on Racist Imagery here.