Yesterday was Halloween. We all know what that meant, right? Trick-or-treaters.
Well, it should have meant that but the county’s health department put a real damper on the day by canceling the event, forcing community members to buck the system and pass out candy anyway.
As an organizer, it always excites me when people stand up for themselves and push back against policies and decisions that they feel are hurtful and out of touch. I mean, getting folks to do that is the whole point of my job. I was cruising social media yesterday and was amazed that something like the canceling of trick-or-treat brought so much protest. It was refreshing, though, because I had spent too many moments this week amazed at people who were complaining about kids traveling to their neighborhood for trick-or-treat.
They complain about the number of kids from other neighborhoods coming. I can see that the expense increases, but I also was one of those parents who took my kid to the “better neighborhood” to trick-or-treat. Why? Because trick-or-treating isn’t a lot of fun in the ghetto. Did I feel bad about it? Actually, I did carry a bit of guilt with me as we walked up and down three streets, but I also was glad that it was an option because my kids wouldn’t have such fond memories if we would have stayed around our neighborhood.
This is a great metaphor for what it’s like to be out here organizing with poor people. You have this group of people over here who feel as if they should be able to have the same opportunity as everyone else, so they load up their car every Halloween and head to the “better” side of town where they feel their kids will be safer and have more fun. Hundreds of kids are walking up and down the streets, laughing excitedly. You hear moms and dads urging their kids to walk faster or walk slower, depending on the kid, and to be careful on the steps. Everyone is getting along and minding their own business.
Disguised
Because of costumes, it’s difficult to know which kids “belong” in the neighborhood and which kids don’t, unless they’re black or brown kids because not many non-whites live in this neighborhood and everyone is familiar with the few who do. Every child is given the same treat because that’s the right thing to do. There’s no discrimination when it comes to Aquaman or Belle and the Beast, right, because everyone gets the same thing. They don’t have to pay for it or ask for it any differently; they are given the treats without doubt and head to the next house where the same thing happens.
When time is up, the kids and families go home, some by car and some on foot. I’m pretty sure parents, regardless of where they live, have the same conversations with their kids about not eating all of it or not eating any of it until it’s checked. Because kids are kids, regardless as to where they live. Everyone is excited and kind of sad that the event is over. Well, everyone except that house on the corner of Bootstrap Lane.
See, the man of that house will be on Facebook soon, complaining about the fact that there were even more kids there this year than last wanting free candy. He’s going to point out that he didn’t know half the kids who came up his steps and how unfair it is to himself and his neighbors to have to provide candy for someone else’s kids. His money doesn’t grow on trees and he is able to afford candy because he worked his ass off all his life.
He will go on to say that he won’t buy “the good candy” next year because those kids who didn’t belong, the kids whose parents are lazy and need to get a job (or a better job or two jobs) took it all. He’ll start ranting about how they’re all Socialists and want everything for free. Why should he have to pay to provide candy when the parents should just stop having kids they can’t afford.
He doesn’t realize that the first family lives next to a trap house. He doesn’t know that the mom only walks part way with them because she’s exhausted from working two jobs. He doesn’t realize that the man with a cane would be walking better if he had affordable health insurance and could go to physical therapy. He doesn’t know that the woman right there relies on Planned Parenthood’s free cancer screenings and saved her life last year.
And that’s the problem, isn’t it? Too many ASSumptions and not enough truth. I hope your kids forever get the good candy.
And go vote!
Onward,
Amy Jo
