This morning I was listening to Ta-Nehisi Coates, a young man of extreme brilliance. If you are not familiar with him, today's blog at the Atlantic Monthly is a great place to start. It's titled "The Fact of A Dual Society" and was delivered at Harvard University's Shorenstein Center. I'm not going to attempt to articulate any of the talk, only where it took me.
Halloween and more specifically it's connection to slavery in the chocolate industry and the candy industry in the United States.
Chocolate is a product of the cacao bean which grows primarily in the tropical climates of West Africa and Latin America. The cacao bean is more commonly referred to as cocoa, so that is the term we will use throughout. Two West African countries, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, supply 75% of the world’s cocoa market.[1] The cocoa they grow and harvest is sold to a variety of chocolate companies, including some of the largest in the world.In recent years, a handful of organizations and journalists have exposed the widespread use of child labor, and in some cases slavery, on West African cocoa farms.[2,3] Since that time, the industry has become increasingly secretive, making it difficult for reporters to not only access farms where human rights violations still occur, but to then disseminate this information to the public. For example, in 2004 a journalist was kidnapped and remains missing today.[4] More recently, three journalists from a daily newspaper were detained by government authorities in the Ivory Coast after publishing an article about government corruption related to the cocoa industry.[5] The farms of West Africa supply cocoa to international giants such as Hershey’s, Mars and Nestlé – revealing the industry’s direct connection to child labor, human trafficking and slavery. (source)
There are many thoughts on why we should, or should not, celebrate Halloween--with or without children. It is not my intention here to argue either side. I've only been delivered to this place by a gifted writer/orator and memories. I have fond memories of walking the streets and collecting pillowcases full of candy and other treats. I remember my grandmother making candied apples for her "specials". My warmest memories though are not of childhood "Trick or Treating". They are from watching my mother in her later years waiting in the living room by the door. For my mother, Halloween brought children to her door and children brought laughter. And though each year the numbers became fewer, she continued to wait to reward those that did. Her rewards consisted largely of pencils, novelty erasers or some change for their pockets. This was not because of any political awareness. It was because even though she had lost touch with much of the why and how of things, in her heart and in her soul she remained a teacher.
So, if you are inclined to provide something for the little goblins that knock on your door this Halloween, think of my mother. There are a host of options that can go into a bag. Options that provide opportunities for learning and laughter. It might also provide an opportunity to slip some information about why you have chosen other treats for them, or a note thanking them for their visit. What an opportunity to make a connection.
Here are also some sites for all kinds of ideas for alternate choices:
- Green Halloween
- Trick or Treat for UNICEF
- Mommies for Miracles
- HGIC 4112 Healthy Halloween
- Healthier Trick or Treat Options
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| Newman's Own |
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| Mama Ganache |
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| Equal Exchange |
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| Endangered Species |
You can also find a listing that reflects the most recent research of the Food Empowerment Project which does ongoing research into how our food choices can change the world. Their work involving child slavery is commendable. You can find a description of the categories here, and the actual lists here.
These may be a little pricey, but they don't come at the expense of someone else.
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