“A security guard was killed last year over a DVD player.” That’s how Black Friday, the annual shopping frenzy that takes place the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, was explained to me. I never expected to write about the event, let alone participate, but the story peaked my interest.
To get more information, I started looking on the Internet. I wasn’t disappointed at all with the information I found. I couldn’t believe the amount of excitement and enthusiasm both retailers and customers were expressing in anticipation of the event.
The number of websites devoted to Black Friday is interesting. There were so many that, when I Googled the phrase, I was surprised not to find a Wikipedia reference on the first page. Obviously, I was the only one looking solely for a definition. According to what I found, Literally, Black Friday is the day retailers go “from red to black,” meaning they sell enough products to break even and make a profit. It’s also known as the opening of the holiday shopping season.
This year was special because, for the first time, the shops opened on the night of Thanksgiving, as opposed to at midnight and the following day. For example, Toys ‘R’ Us opened at 9:00 PM while Macy’s opened, as per tradition, at midnight. Besides, a lot of people started to refer to a new phenomenon: “Black Friday Week.” From the beginning of the week, retailers started to have sales on their websites. Apparently, Friday spreads into eight, full days of sales.
I didn’t want to compromise my Thanksgiving diner, so I didn’t arrive at Thirty Fourth Street and Seventh Avenue until 11:30 PM. I couldn’t believe that people were already there. Most of them came around 9:00 PM, to be first in line outside their favorite stores. The streets were so crowded that you would forget how late it was. People were everywhere, in front of Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora, and JC Penny’s, but the most astounding line was in front of Macy’s. In fact, there was not only one, but two lines per door on each side.
I wondered how they would organize the entrance, so I stopped in front of the door, and observed. A manager was standing outside, speaking with people, trying to explain to them the rules of security for over twenty minutes. “You are the first guys, so you don’t have to run. Just walk slowly and carefully through the door.” In front of him were two lines of determined people starving for a sale. Young, old, tourists, locals, women, men, and even kids were all present. A countdown had begun before the doors finally opened. Once that happened, I noticed people behaving very strangely.
They became primitive and instinctive. Facing this strange mutation of the human species was an employee standing at the top of the escalator, cheerily greeting the customers with “Good Morning!” and “Ladies and gentlemen, please keep moving!” on repeat. It looked like a group of children being managed by an adult teacher.
On my way home, I witnessed the long line for BestBuy. It was unbelievable to see people leaving the store with giant televisions and yelling for a taxi cab. Suredly, they got a good deal – but was it worth it? Many of these people sacrificed Thanksgiving dinner! I think the capitalist spirit should at least wait one night.
By Kenza Yarhfouri
