14 Halloween Costume Ideas from Black Movies and TV Shows

My Black Clothing
7 min readSep 17, 2020

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Halloween is fast approaching! Now look inside your closet (if it’s still there) for last year’s Halloween costume. Is it the same old spiderman, superman, schoolgirl, vampire, Dracula costume? If it is, I can totally relate.

As an African American, Halloween was always the same! Every year my parents would buy me the same standard superman or batman superhero costume just to fit in with the other kids. But as I grew up, and was more aware of myself in terms of black culture, and excellence, I started to wonder…where are all the black character costume ideas for Halloween?

The year the Black Panther movie made its way into theater was the day African American witnessed a superhero they could truly relate to and cherish as one of their own. It was not just about the superhero, it was about what it represented — black culture, excellence, empowerment, wealth, tradition, and ownership. That same year was also the year millions of African American children traded in their novel Halloween Super Man and Batman masks for a Black Panther mask.

Our celebration of black superheroes does not have to end there. Africa Americans have made great contributions to many areas of life and that should be celebrated proudly.

Here are some amazing, fun and scary halloween costume ideas for black men and women that you should try this Halloween:

1) Lakeith Stanfield — Cassius Green Halloween Costume from Sorry to Bother You

halloween costume ideas for black men

Cassius Green is a telemarketer who discovers a talent he had all along to help him propel to material glory. As a sales person, Green’s main costume in the movie is a suit, complete with a shirt and a tie.

On the movie poster you will notice Cassius also has a white bloodstained band around his need to complete the look. This is from the time he was beat up during a protest scene in the movie. The look itself is rough to show the stress he suffered during the fight.

2) John David Washington — Ron Stallwood Halloween Costume from BlacKkKlansman

halloween costume ideas for black men

Ron Stallwood from BlacKkKlansamn is a character very suited as a Halloween costume. Based on a true story, he is a black cop who tries to infiltrate the KKK in this drama crime movie.

His main costume is the big afro, oversize leathercoat, light blue jeans and a cop badge to finish off the look.

3) Spike Lee — Mookie Halloween Costume from Do the Right Thing

halloween costume ideas for black men

Mookie from Do the Right Thing was a pizza delivery man in Brooklyn, NewYork. He got caught up in racial tension when Buggin’ Out (Giancarlo Esposito), becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria’s Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors.

The most iconic costume for Mookie is Brooklyn dodgers jersey, the African leather medallion, and pizza boxes.

4) Chris Tucker — Smokey Halloween Costume from Friday

halloween costume ideas for black men

Friday is a comedy drama about two friends, Smokey and Craig. Craig loses his job and on Friday, and Smokey convinces Craig to start smoking weed. The two get involved in other adventures in the movie.

Smokey’s most iconic costume is simple, just a blue hat, blue shirt, and tan chaki pants.

5) Lupita Nyong’o — Adelaide Wilson / Red Halloween Costume from US

halloween costume ideas for black women

Red plays Adelaide double ganger in the horry movie US. This is a great scary costume for Halloween. It is simple and screams scary at the same time.

6) Uzo Aduba as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren Halloween Costume from Orange is the New Black

halloween costume ideas for black men

Orange is the New Black is a comedy-drama Netflix series which takes place in a women’s prison. Crazy Eyes is portrayed as intelligent, but lacking in social skills, and prone to spiral into emotional outbursts when agitated, as well as hallucinations and delusions, due to mental illness.

Her costume is that of an inmate. Longsleeve sweater, and a v-neck shirt on top.

Items Needed for Crazy Eyes Halloween Costume from Orange is the New Black costume

7) Denzel Washington — Alonzo Harris Halloween Costume from Training Day

halloween costume ideas for black men

Denzel Washington play Alonzo, a bad cop who is in depth with the Russian mafia due to a conflict he had with a member of the Rissian mafia. In order to pay the debt, he must work illegally work obtain a large sum of money. In the process, he works with a partner who finds out what is going on and tries to stop Alonzo.

Alonzo’s character is hardcore, and manipulative and his outfit fits that. He wears all black throughout the movie as a representation of this.

8) Wesley Snipes — Blade Halloween Costume from Bade

halloween costume ideas for black men

Blade is a half-mortal, out to avenge his mother’s death and rid the world of vampires. The modern-day technologically advanced vampires he is going after are in search of his special blood type needed to summon an evil god who plays a key role in their plan to execute the human race.

Blade’s costume portrays his character as well — dark, and ruthless.

9) Giancarlo Esposito — Bugging Out Halloween Costume from Do The Right Thing

halloween costume ideas for black men
halloween costume ideas for black men

Buggin’ Out is one of my favourite characters in the movie Do the Right Thing! He is loud and outspoken and if you are the same, this is the best costume for you. In the movie Do the Right Thing, Buggin’ Out plays Mookie’s friend who is unhappy with his local pizza restaurant rejection to have any pictures of black figures on his wall. Buggin’ Out then decides to Boycott the pizza joint in protest of the refused demand.

The costume for Buggin’ Out is a very classic 90s look. Kente print is incorporated into the outfit and finished with the african leather medallion and Jordans.

10) Bill Nunn as Radio Raheem Halloween Costume from Do The Right Thing

halloween costume ideas for black men

Radio Raheem is another character from Do the Right Thing who plays a hip hop enthusiast. In the movie, he teams up with Buggin’ Out in attempt to convince Sal (the pizza owner) to put African American figures on his pizza business’ wall.

Radio Raheem is well known for the ghetto blaster he walks around with in his neighbourhood and the infamous bedstuy t shirt.

11) Michael B Jordan as Killmonger Halloween Costume from Black Panther

halloween costume ideas for black men. killmonger halloween costume

Remember the phrase “Hi Auntie”? Killmonger is the cousin of T’Challa (Black Panther). In the Black Panther movie, he plays the role of an African American seeking revenge for his father (killed by his our brother).

Killmonger’s movie costume is quite complex but worth looking into! In the movie we see Killmonger in 2 main costumes; his costume on the throne and his black panther costume. His throne costume looks best for a person who is muscular in build. Otherwise you can try his black panther costume which can be purchased at most costume shops.

12) Winston Duke — M’Baku Halloween Costume from Black Panther

halloween costume ideas for black men. m’baku halloween costume

In Black Panther, M’Baku is the leader of the Jabari tribe. He first appears in the movie during T’Challa’s coronation ceremony. He wore gorilla fur, and condemned the king-to-be for failing to protect his father.

To pull of M’Baku’s look requires careful planning as the items you will need for this costume may be hard to find.

13) Eddie Murphy — Prince Akeem Costume from Coming to America

halloween costume ideas for black men

Coming to America is about the story of an African prince who travels to America to meet his princess. Prince Akeem (played by Eddie Murphy) finds himself in Queens, NewYork in search for his bride while concealing his identify as a prince.

Prince Akeem plays multiple characters in the movie, each with different costumes. He plays himself as the prince, and a cashier at the restaurant — McDowells. Here we describe his costume as a prince when he comes to America.

In the movie, Prince Akeem is shown wearing a suit, glazed with a golden necklace and animal fur. This look was worn by Jay Z for halloween back in 2015.

14) Jamie Foxx — Django Costume from Django

halloween costume ideas for black men. django halloween costume

In the movie Django, Django plays a freed slave on a mission to save his wife. He pairs with a French bounty hunter in order to free his wife from a slave owner.

Django’s look is very stylish even as a cowboy. He is dressed for winter and most of the attire is corduroy, complete with a belted leather gun holster, a hat and scarf.

Originally published at https://www.myblackclothing.com on September 17, 2020.

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My Black Clothing
My Black Clothing

Written by My Black Clothing

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