13 Halloween Costumes For Black Men, Idea #7 Is My Favorite

While wearing a costume isn’t regarded as “normal” on a regular day, Halloween gives us all a chance to dress up when we want to. 

There are quite a few Halloween costumes for black women, but can the same be said for men? 

When it comes time to dress up, there are a few classic people and characters that are always an option. 

From musical geniuses to our forever president, here are 13 Halloween costumes for black men.

And if you missed it, check our black woman Halloween costumes too.

Jerome From Martin

I said, Jerome’s in the house!

If you’re a fan of the comedy series Martin from the ‘90s, then you’ll know who Jerome is.

When Martin Lawrence first starred in the 1992 pilot, we were introduced to his title character.

What we didn’t know was that he would come out of the woodwork with tons of other characters played by him.

While Sheneneh Jenkins is classic, we can’t forget about Jerome.

The playa from the Himalayas – get a fluffy perm, gold jewelry, gold teeth, some knee length shorts, and crew socks.

And that’s all anyone really needs to complete the look.

Black Panther

Wakanda forever!

In 2018, we were all pressed and ready to go to the movies to see the Marvel movie Black Panther.

Based on the character of the same name, it was one of the first times many would see a black superhero at the center of a movie.

With the film starring Chadwick Boseman, one could go as King T’Challa, but it probably wouldn’t be as recognizable as the superhero costume.

To go all out, Black Panther is the way to go!

While the costume might get a little hot, everyone needs to be prepared to respond to “Wakanda Forever” all night long.

Prince Akeem From Coming to America

In 1988, Eddie Murphy dropped a gem on us.

Coming to America starred Murphy as Prince Akeem, a crown prince who comes to America hoping to find a bride.

Let’s just say that it takes some time for him to get acclimated to his new life in Queens.

You’re going to need some rich-looking clothes and necklaces to pull this look off, but trust me, it’s going to be worth it.

And while we might’ve not included him on the list, no one could forget James Earl Jones’ iconic look from this movie either.

That lion head chilling on his shoulder was everything.

Michael Jackson

You’ve been hit by, you’ve been struck by, a smooth criminal.

Make way for the King of Pop.

Get ready to moonwalk onto the dancefloor because Michael Jackson costumes are iconic and instantly recognizable.

Because of his vast career, you have the option to dress up as him from almost any music video and still be recognized.

There’s his iconic red costume from Thriller or his black suit and red bowtie outfit from Billie Jean.

Just make sure the moonwalk and the kick are in place for any impromptu performances throughout the night.

Will Smith From The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

While a few of us already knew Will Smith from his rap career as The Fresh Prince, we were all introduced to his comedic side in 1990.

Starring as a fictionalized version of himself, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC and his character helped shape him into a style icon.

Most might not think of Will Smith as an icon today, but in the ‘90s, he was pulling out all the looks on the TV series.

With bright neon colors, eccentric patterns, and a mix of confidence and swag, Will Smith’s character had all the style.

Steve Urkel From Family Matters

Did I do that?

Family Matters premiered in 1989 on ABC, and if you were to ask someone who the most memorable character on the show was, they’d most likely say Steve Urkel.

His character started out as a neighbor to the Winslow family, and he was only supposed to have a one-time appearance. 

After receiving such positive reviews, not only did the character become a regular, but he became the star of the show.

There are only a few things one would need to pull off the best Steve Urkel.

The costume can be completed with glasses, suspenders, and too short jeans.

And if you’re feeling fancy, pop out an accordion and drop a tune for everyone!

Barack Obama

If you want all the props at the party, dress up as Barack Obama, our 44th president.

While he started out as a state senator, he would then become a U.S. Senator before being appointed to the highest position in the United States.

Barack Obama took office in January 2009 and made history.

This intelligent Columbia University and Harvard Law graduate is easy to portray in costume.

Get yourself a black suit, wear a blue tie, and don a small American flag pin.

With the costume easy to recreate, make sure you work on his distinct voice!

Here’s “how to do the perfect Barry Obama impression.”

It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser!

MC Hammer

Stop! Hammer time.

MC Hammer is another classic look to recreate for Halloween.

While he might’ve been what we’d call a two-hit wonder, he definitely made waves in the fashion community.

After the music video for “U Can’t Touch This,” the rapper became known for hammer pants.

To pull off the halloween look, you’ll definitely need this.

And while you might think the yellow and black vest are needed, you can pull this outfit off with less.

Get yourself a black tank top, wire frame glasses, and a gold chain.

In combination with your hammer pants, you’ll be “too legit to quit.”

Tupac

When it comes to classic costumes for recreation, Tupac is always on the list.

It’s probably because his look was so distinct.

While many probably weren’t going dressed up as Tupac in the ‘90s, his death brought about hundreds, if not thousands, dressing up as him in homage.

There are a few things you can use to bring a Tupac costume to life.

Make sure you have the red or blue bandana to tie around the head.

If going shirtless is an option, don’t forget the iconic “thug life” tattoo across the abdomen.

If not, pretty much any one of his ‘90s looks can be recreated with loose-fitting clothes.

Kel Mitchell in Good Burger

Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger – can I take your order?

We were introduced to Kel Mitchell when he began starring in the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series, All That.

The Good Burger sketch was introduced there, and after having success on the show, it was turned into a movie starring Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson.

Kel’s less-than-smart character instantly became iconic.

And this costume is easy to recreate.

All anyone really needs is the Good Burger uniform.

To go the extra mile to transform into Kel, one would need a short, braided wig to wear underneath the hat.

Et voila, you’re a Good Burger employee.

Gerald Johanssen From Hey Arnold!

Every TV show character needs a best friend, and Gerald Johanssen from Hey Arnold! is the best one.

Hey Arnold! is the animated series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2004.

With a collection of different characters, Gerald was definitely one of the most memorable.

His character had infinite confidence and was clearly dripping swag.

With his character wearing the same thing in every episode, his costume is easier than most.

All one really needs is a red hoodie or long-sleeve t-shirt with the numbers 33 on it.

Add on some jeans and red sneakers, and you’re almost set.

The costume can’t be complete without his tall, narrow afro.

Once this is all in place, the costume is good to go.

Prince

Another iconic musician on this list, Prince is another great option for a Halloween costume.

While he definitely is known as a fashion icon, his costume recreations aren’t for the faint of heart.

Prince created an androgynous persona so there’s a mix of both feminine and masculine style to any of his costumes.

If you really want to bring his costume to life, it will have to be his look from Purple Rain.

The suit mixed with the hair make it a truly iconic look that will get you instant recognition at a costume party.

Run DMC

If you’re looking for a more casual look, Run-DMC is the answer.

From Hollis, Queens, the 1980s rap group was making waves.

With the options for being Run, DMC, or Jam Master Jay, the look can come together with just a few pieces.

Get yourself some Adidas gear, because it was rare that you would catch the trio without it.

To complete the look, you’ll need a large braided chain and a black fedora hat.

And as a bonus, if you’re going as DMC, don’t forget to get some yellow tinted glasses to complete the look.

13 Halloween Costumes For Black Men Conclusion

Halloween is a time to dress up and have fun!

You might not be the only one tired of bringing non-black characters to life for the parties.

Instead, anyone of these costumes would work for our black men.

From animated characters to TV icons, this is a great place to start.