I was shocked. Grown men, dressed in Arabian attire, leading a Halloween Parade in Wortley Village. The leader swinging a machete. A sign stating, “Mocha Shriners Oriental Band”.  I struggled with this for a long time before asking on my local community board about the group. 

How is that an organization with over 500,000 members in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Republic of Panama have not questioned their Arab Cultural Appropriation and mockery. Despite its Orientalist theme, the Shriners is a men's fraternity that is  not connected to either Arab culture or Islam.

The Shriners are a fraternal organization known for their impressive charitable work, through which they fund twenty-two hospitals for children throughout the US, and in Montreal and Mexico City. But they’re perhaps even better known for the distinctive red velvet fezzes they wear to ceremonial functions, their Middle Eastern comical attire, driving miniature cars, and playing as an “Oriental Band” dressed in cartoonish versions of Middle Eastern dress in parades.

Let’s start at the beginning.

In 1870, William Florence, a world-renowned actor, while on tour in Marseille, settled on the theme after watching an Arabian-themed musical comedy, at an event hosted by an Arabian Diplomat. 

Using this, the "Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.)."  was founded. The group adopted a Middle Eastern theme and soon the first Temple, the Mecca Temple, was established at the New York City Masonic Hall. This organization goes to great lengths to project an image of oriental antiquity.

In 1875, there were only 43 Shriners in the organization. After some other reworking, in 1900, there were 55,000 members and 82 Temples. Today there are approximately 515,000 Shriners belonging to 191 Shrine Temples.

I understand they do good work. I understand they're community members and do wonderful work for their local charities. I understand they raise money for children’s hospitals and other organizations, but I am also sure they can do their incredibly important good work without dressing and engaging in cultural appropriation.

My only expectation for this is to spark questioning, conversation and hopefully mutual respect. If NOTHING else comes of this, I hope future events and parades will be more mindful of their audience. Our communities need to come together, especially considering the tragedy that occurred in our community not too long ago.  When we know better – WE NEED TO DO BETTER, and in this community, we know better.

My culture is not a comedy show. It is not for your entertainment, or your costumes.

Please join me in asking the Shriners of London Ontario and the International Shriners around the world to avoid perpetuating stereotypes, and mocking a culture. Please update your organizations practices.