Student View: Black Friday

Sophie Whyte

November 26, 2013

Following the day of Thanksgiving, “door-buster sales” entice Americans to shop ’til they drop. Black Friday is an unofficial American holiday that is the opening of winter shopping in stores, with Cyber Monday coming a few days later for online shoppers. Sales let consumers find good deals on nearly everything from electronics to clothes to food. While it is an economically sound day for shoppers and corporations, protests against Black Friday have become more common in recent years, particularly against major corporations who make millions on Black Friday yet still pay employees minimum wage. CNN estimated that in 2012, 59 billion dollars was spent by shoppers over the Black Friday weekend. More revenue is expected to be generated this Black Friday.

[heading]BearingNews asked students: What do you think about Black Friday?[/heading]

DSC_6938 resized — “I think, really just the commercialism [of Black Friday] is just to try and get family together. Black Friday…as early as it is, I think it’s a way to get your family together just to do something kind of crazy or fun.” -Junior Brooke Matthews

DSC_6940 resized — “I think [Black Friday] is helpful. I think it’s just a way for people to do early Christmas shopping and get good deals.”
-Sophomore Megan Goyette

“I find it kind of annoying that this American tradition is kind of being flaunted for money by corporations and I think it should just kind of go back to its roots. And Black Friday for one thing, I’m just tired with it.” Sophomore Jackson Keller — “I find it kind of annoying that this American tradition is kind of being flaunted for money by corporations and I think [Thanksgiving] should just kind of go back to its roots. And Black Friday for one thing, I’m just tired with it.” -Sophomore Jackson Keller

“I feel like it’s a pretty good holiday honestly because a lot of stuff goes on sale and that is about a time when everyone’s buying stuff. I mean, sure the corporations get a lot of money but it’s also an American holiday that we celebrate. I really feel like it doesn’t have much to do with Thanksgiving, more just it’s close to Christmas and the holidays and that’s when everyone needs gifts and it just happens to be right near Christmas.” — “I feel like [Black Friday] is a pretty good holiday honestly because a lot of stuff goes on sale and that is about a time when everyone’s buying stuff. I mean, sure the corporations get a lot of money, but it’s also an American holiday that we celebrate. I really feel like it doesn’t have much to do with Thanksgiving, more just it’s close to Christmas and the holidays and that’s when everyone needs gifts and it just happens to be right near Christmas.” -Freshman Tobey Washer

By Sophi Whyte
Are you shopping on Black Friday? We would love for you to tweet @RBHSBearingNews when you shop.

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Abby Kempf • Dec 17, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Black Friday shopping is really fun in smaller places like Columbia, and you can get a lot of good deals. But I don’t think deals should start on Thanksgiving, as this takes away from family time and time for being thankful.


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