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16 Reasons Black Folks May Not Love Halloween Like White People Do

16 Reasons Black Folks May Not Love Halloween Like White People Do

Some Black parents are more conscious about the racism their children can experience if people decide to soil the fun of dressing up.

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Halloween season is not embraced by errybody. Check out Tiktok and you will see white influencers strolling down Home Good aisles, stacking their Halloween decor in cars, but rarely will you see a Black influencer doing the same.

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Growing up in a traditional, Black and most likely religious household meant Halloween was not the most popular holiday. One of the most common reasons as to why you won’t see a Black home’s porch light on the night of October 31st is because they believe the celebration of witches, skeletons and ghosts is a breeding ground for demonic activity. It’s not always about spirituality, though.

Some Black folks just aren’t into the fun of costumes and candy. Others are more conscious about the racism they or their children can experience if people decide to soil the fun of dressing up. Most would rather save their coins for the major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Among all the reasons in the world that a Black person wouldn’t care for the holiday, here’s 16 reasons why Halloween is toward the bottom of the totem.

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2 / 17

Halloween is “Demonic”

Halloween is “Demonic”

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For most religion-based Black households, Halloween is off limits. With all of the holiday’s ties to ghosts and ghouls, Black folks are not with the idea of celebrating such demonic debauchery.

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3 / 17

Unwanted Trick-or-Treaters

Unwanted Trick-or-Treaters

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Regardless of the neighborhood, a group of random kids and potentially nosey parents walking up to your door over and over is not appealing to some.

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4 / 17

Rather Wait for Thanksgiving

Rather Wait for Thanksgiving

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Why spend money on costumes and candy when we’re patiently waiting for the holidays that matter like Thanksgiving and Christmas? By the time the holiday is over, people are going to sweeping the macaroni boxes off the shelves.

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5 / 17

The Hassle of Finding Costumes

The Hassle of Finding Costumes

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Costume picking comes with its own hassle of restrictions: nothing too inappropriate, nothing too stereotypical, nothing too expensive (even though all costumes are quite pricey). Plus, who has time to DIY something from scratch?

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6 / 17

Racist Decorations

Racist Decorations

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Screenshot: KHQ News

It’s hard to celebrate a holiday people use as a way to be openly racist. Hanging dolls on a noose or creating caricature scare crows is exactly what Black folks don’t want to put up with while on the candy hunt.

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7 / 17

Racist Costumes

Racist Costumes

Julianne Hough as “Crazy Eyes” from “Orange is The New Black”
Julianne Hough as “Crazy Eyes” from “Orange is The New Black”
Screenshot: TODAY

In the same breath, the holiday only means someone, whether a kid at school or even a celebrity, is going to go viral for an offensive, most likely blackface costume because they thought Halloween was a pass to be racist. Must we give the “Why Blackface Isn’t Cool” speech every year?

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8 / 17

Mischief Night

Mischief Night

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No Black parent is going for any of the nonsense kids plan to get into before or on Halloween night. Pranks, crazy parties or debauchery of any caliber won’t just make a great story the next day but will also bring serious consequences.

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9 / 17

People Who Take Halloween Too Serious

People Who Take Halloween Too Serious

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What Black parents are letting their child become the Black kid in the horror movie that died first?! Killer clowns found themselves being outside of the movie screen one year. Safety first.

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10 / 17

We Don’t Have a Reason to Celebrate

We Don’t Have a Reason to Celebrate

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Black people don’t have a deep, cultural connection to Halloween. For some, that’s the reason they don’t care to indulge in the festivities.

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11 / 17

Wrong Block

Wrong Block

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Some folks just don’t have the foot traffic to expect trick-or-treaters to come by. Meanwhile, other don’t live on the trick-or-treat friendly block, if you know what I mean.

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12 / 17

Violates The Street Light Code

Violates The Street Light Code

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Mama said be home before the street lights come on and you’re saying step outside after? On purpose?

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13 / 17

Candy Concerns

Candy Concerns

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Razor blades, drugs and all kinds of nonsense get hidden in candy these days. One can never be too safe.

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14 / 17

Nothing to Pass Out

Nothing to Pass Out

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Candy prices gettin’ a lil high now. For the folks who wait to the last minute and don’t feel like picking up that pack of fruit snacks or whatever’s left, sometimes they just resort to leaving the porch light off.

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15 / 17

No Costume to Wear

No Costume to Wear

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If you’re part of the group that waits until the last minute to buy a costume and runs into that empty Party City wall, this slide is for you. After a while, having a costume determines if you take part in Halloween activities.

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16 / 17

School Night

School Night

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More often than not, the Halloween festivities occur the night before the kiddos have to wake up again for school. Some parents might not even play that with their kids. Candy-fueled children on a school night? No thanks.

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