Black Friday
VIEWPOINT
By RALPH HARDIN
Evening Times Editor
One thing I’m definitely thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend: I don’t have to deal with Black Friday shopping anymore.
I remember well my Mom and her sisters going out the Friday after Thanksgiving on Christmas shopping sprees. I don’t think the term Black Friday was in common usage at the time (maybe among retailers, but not the general public).
The first time I remember hearing the term was after I was grown when I heard a lady at church tell my wife that it was “Black Friday” at Walmart the upcoming Friday and “the whole store will be like half price” on that day but “you got to get up at the butt crack of dawn,” which is practically swearing to a church lady, so you know it was a big deal.
I don’t remember if we took advantage of that year’s “butt crack of dawn” sales event, but by the time the boys were prob-
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sorts of sales. “It’s Black Friday in July!” or “Black Friday deals all month long!” or whatever ridiculousness they can come up with to the point that the phrase has lost all of its original meaning.
Of course, it’s all online all the time these days. Unless something changes, this will be the fourth or fifth year in a row I’ve checked off nearly all of the items on my Christmas list without leaving the comfort of my own couch. I won’t say I miss fighting the holiday crowds, but there is some satisfaction to be had in grabbing the last Holiday Barbie.
I’m not proud, though, of the time I literally threw my body on top of the box that held the last trampoline at the Forrest City Walmart.
One good thing I’ve seen, though is that most retailers have begun backing off the idea of opening up Thanksgiving night and making their workers come in. Black Friday is fine, for those who want to get out and play Santa’s Little Helper, but making retail workers work on Thanksgiving is no bueno. It’s Black Friday, not Black Thursday, so, that’s nice I suppose.
Anyway, by the time you read this, I’ll be in a turkey coma, so happy shopping and happy Thanksgiving!
