Why it Isn’t Only Evangelicals Who Are Trying to Cancel Halloween
The extreme left and the extreme right have become unlikely allies in the latest holiday controversy
Halloween has fallen on hard times. Last year, trick or treating was discouraged because of Covid-19, but even before the pandemic, choosing a costume had become a risky business.
Pacific Islanders compared wearing a Maui costume to blackface, and if your child wanted to be Moana or Aladdin, they might be guilty of cultural appropriation. Even that old standby, the hobo costume, was declared off limits because somebody decided it mocked homelessness.
But this year, the Halloween haters have gone a step further. They’ve decided to cancel Halloween; not because of the Delta variant, or because costumes are scary, or playing dressing up and eating candy might disrupt classes. Those reasons could possibly garner some sympathy from people who believe school should primarily be a place of learning.
No, the reason for cancelling Halloween, according to a Seattle elementary school district, is over concerns about student equity and inclusion. Seattle Public schools say Black males don’t enjoy Halloween. The school’s Racial Equity Team maintains that the Pumpkin Parade “marginalizes students of color…
