News · moment 4 of 28
Seattle School Cancels Halloween Parade, and Ryan the Dirty Kid
from #273 - Snap, Kapital, Pop | The Tim Dillon Show · #273
5 min
News
Tim reacts to a Seattle elementary school canceling its Halloween parade over claims it marginalizes students of color, then tells a long story about a poor, neglected childhood classmate named Ryan who wore a pumpkin mask for the parade.
- Seattle elementary school cancels its annual Halloween pumpkin parade, claiming it marginalizes students of color who don't celebrate Halloween.
- Tim questions whether African-American boys actually avoid Halloween, noting he's never heard of this before.
- School justifies removing the parade and costumes around 'foundational beliefs around equity,' citing that some kids lack money for costumes.
- Tim introduces Ryan, a dirty, neglected Irish kid from his school who would show up filthy and malnourished to Halloween parades.
- Teachers gave Ryan a plastic pumpkin mask so he could participate in the parade despite his poverty and home situation.
- Tim argues that canceling the parade doesn't actually help kids like Ryan—his parents don't care, and his life remains unchanged.
- Tim visits Ryan's house and describes the conditions: cereal, cigarette ashtrays overflowing, a genuinely difficult childhood.
- The Halloween parade included kids with expensive costumes like Freddy Krueger masks alongside poorer students with minimal options.
- A 600-pound girl named Jenna was dressed as a princess and walked the parade with a characteristic head gesture she did daily.
- Ryan with his small pumpkin mask and the other kids of varying circumstances all participating together made for a nice day.
Benjamin Franklin Day Elementary SchoolSeattle