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.

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.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Dominique Thorne Reveals Why She Almost Passed on Ironheart

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.

Halloween is “Demonic”

Photo: Getty Images Chadchai Ra-ngubpai

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.

Unwanted Trick-or-Treaters

Photo: Getty Images Jupiterimages

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.

Rather Wait for Thanksgiving

Photo: Getty Images Granger Wootz

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.

The Hassle of Finding Costumes

Photo: Getty Images Daniel Llao Cavet

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?

Racist Decorations

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.

Racist Costumes

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?

Mischief Night

Photo: Getty Images Darrin Klimek

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.

People Who Take Halloween Too Serious

Photo: Getty Images nito100

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.

We Don’t Have a Reason to Celebrate

Photo: Getty Images SeventyFour

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.

Wrong Block

Photo: Getty Images Mark Liddell

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.

Violates The Street Light Code

Photo: Getty Images Patrick Strattner

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

Candy Concerns

Photo: Getty Images mediaphotos

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

Nothing to Pass Out

Photo: Getty Images Mark Liddell

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.

No Costume to Wear

Photo: Getty Images Cavan Images

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.

School Night

Photo: Getty Images Jupiterimages

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.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Oscars 2026: The Most Iconic Black Celeb Red Carpet Looks of All Time

Oscars 2026: The Most Iconic Black Celeb Red Carpet Looks of All Time

From Halle Berry to Colman Domingo, these are the best Academy Awards red carpet looks ever from our faves! …
White Mega-Hit Songs You Didn't Know Were Written By Black People

White Mega-Hit Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written By Black People

From old hits by Elvis Presley to new bops by Justin Bieber, Black writers have penned more than a handful of mainstream hit songs. Let’s take a look! …
This Black Actress Sues Harvard Over Something Every Black Woman Can Relate To!

This Black Actress Sues Harvard Over Something Every Black Woman Can Relate To!

Nike Imoru suffered unimaginable hair loss as a result of her recent theater experience and now, she’s taking matters into her own hands! …
Guess Who's Actually Behind the Pro-MAGA Twitter Account Pretending to Be Black

Guess Who’s Actually Behind the Pro-MAGA Twitter Account Pretending to Be Black

The Trump administration is under fire after a dedicated pro-MAGA social media account was linked directly back to the White House …
The Chilling Details of This HBCU Track Star Accused of Killing Her Boyfriend Based on a <i>Wild</i> Assumption

The Chilling Details of This HBCU Track Star Accused of Killing Her Boyfriend Based on a Wild Assumption

After catching her athlete boyfriend in her roommate’s bed, a Lincoln University sprinter allegedly used a hair clip to break in— and a knife to end his life …
New Report: Why Some 80-Year-Olds Have Miracle Brains

New Report: Why Some 80-Year-Olds Have Miracle Brains

New study finds that “super-agers” have the memory capacity of people 30 years younger than them …
Tragedies and Vile Racism That Happened During Black History Month

Tragedies and Vile Racism That Happened During Black History Month

From Malcolm X’s assassination to the N-word scandal at the BAFTA’s, here’s some of the many terrible Black History Month moments which impacted our community …
We Need to Talk About Snoop Dogg Shufflin' For White Folks at the Winter Olympics...

We Need to Talk About Snoop Dogg Shufflin’ For White Folks at the Winter Olympics…

OPINION: This professor believes Snoop Dogg’s bag was secured during the Winter Olympics, but that his dignity is still in negotiations …
Photo: Getty Images Ted Soqui

Black Gen-Zs Remember Where They Were When Trayvon Martin Was Killed 14 Years Ago

Feb. 26 marks 14 years after Trayvon Martin, the murder that shaped a young generation …
Finally, a New Breakthrough in the D4vd Celeste Rivas Death Case

Finally, a New Breakthrough in the D4vd Celeste Rivas Death Case

Court filings from an investigative grand jury’s probe into the shocking death of Celeste Rivas have revealed the true “target” of the case …
David Bowie's Daughter Reveals Heartbreak of Being in Treatment When He Died

David Bowie’s Daughter Reveals Heartbreak of Being in Treatment When He Died

Alexandrua ‘Lexi’ Jones, daughter of Iman and David Bowie is getting candid with her fans and followers, shedding light on a seriously troubled time in her teen years …
Black Internet Responds to Alex Cross' Romance With a White Woman in the New 'Cross' Season

Black Internet Responds to Alex Cross’ Romance With a White Woman in the New ‘Cross’ Season

Aldis Hodge is back as Detective Alex Cross on Prime Video’s hit show ‘Cross.’ But this new seasons have fans speaking out for a funny yet interesting reason …
Black Woman's Essay on Modern Dating Is Lighting Up The Comments Section

Black Woman’s Essay on Modern Dating Is Lighting Up The Comments Section

A Black woman shared her take on dating Black men in 2026, and people can’t stop talking about it …
Candace Owens Has MAGA <i>Furious</i> After Announcing Series Investigating Charlie Kirk's Widow

Candace Owens Has MAGA Furious After Announcing Series Investigating Charlie Kirk’s Widow

After launching a new series investigating Erika Kirk, Candace Owens is getting dragged by MAGA sick and tired of all of the drama …
A North Carolina 3-Year-Old Was Hot Glued to a Chair. Now, Their Teacher Learns Her Fate

A North Carolina 3-Year-Old Was Hot Glued to a Chair. Now, Their Teacher Learns Her Fate

After a three-year-old at a Charlotte suburb daycare wouldn’t sit still, teacher Lashawna Williams did the unthinkable. Now, she just learned her fate …
This Former Miami Mayor Was a Successful Immigrant -- But the Government Says He Led a Double Life

This Former Miami Mayor Was a Successful Immigrant — But the Government Says He Led a Double Life

All eyes are on one former North Miami mayor after a jaw-dropping federal lawsuit is calling his citizenship and marriage status into question …
Marla Gibbs is Spilling Major Tea in Her New Memoir, Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know

Marla Gibbs is Spilling Major Tea in Her New Memoir, Here Are 5 Things You Didn’t Know

At 94 years young, Marla Gibbs is out with a memoir, detailing her unconventional road to stardom. We’re looking at 5 things you didn’t know about the actress …
Are the $2,000 Tariff Refunds Trump Promised <i>Actually</i> Coming?

Are the $2,000 Tariff Refunds Trump Promised Actually Coming?

Pressure is mounting from business owners, working-class Americans and Democrats for Trump to give a full tariff refund as he promised …
Why White Women Are Being Dragged After Trump’s State of the Union Address Over DEI

Why White Women Are Being Dragged After Trump’s State of the Union Address Over DEI

White women who stood to their feet, applauding the “end” of DEI are facing backlash, for good reason …
NFL Star Shares Important, Heartbreaking Message Following Fellow Player's Suicide

NFL Star Shares Important, Heartbreaking Message Following Fellow Player’s Suicide

NFL star A.J. Brown is opening up about mental health and encouraging his fellow football players and fans, by extension, to get the help they need …