Black Friday

What is Black Friday?

In the United States, the day after Thanksgiving is often referred to as Black Friday, which is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. According to a number of sources, the name comes from retailers' hope that sales will put them back "into the black" (meaning, being profitable again). Stores and shoppers alike look forward to kicking off the holiday season in a frenzy of shopping. Yearly, economists and news programs compare sales figures and make guesses about our country's economy.

• Americans Plan Another Frenzied Black Friday (American Express survey from 2003 on consumer attitudes)
• The Race For Holiday Bargains Is On (CNN takes a look at last year's Black Friday)

What's the Downside?

I notice, there always seems to be at least one news story per year about someone getting trampled, shoppers turning into an angry mob, or other un-holiday-like behavior on the day devoted to holiday shopping.

Further, many critics of this shopping frenzy have observed that spending money on items that we really don't need is not in the "holiday spirit."

A Couple Incidents from 2005

• Local Shoppers Injured During Mob-Like Behavior
• Holiday Shopping Season Begins: Black Friday Shopping Frenzy

Part of a Larger, More Troubling Pattern

Excessive consumption, a continued desire to buy more of the latest stuff just because it's new or on sale could spell disaster for our planet and its people. The effects of depleting resources, pollution, as well as increasing the wealth of few at the expense of many has many experts worried that shopping is not just bad for our own wallets but for the future.

Are they telling us we should give up indoor plumbing and the holidays? Not necessarily. International Buy Nothing Day website answers questions like these (link below).

Alternatives

Buy Differently

ibuydifferently.org is a site aimed at teens. It's informative, action oriented, and practical.

Buy Nothing Day

Started by artist Ted Dave in 1992, and promoted by Adbusters, a magazine highly critical of consumer culture, Buy nothing Day suggests that citizens buy absolutely nothing on Black Friday.

• Buy Nothing Day information from Adbusters
• Buy Nothing Day Information and links from Wikipedia
• International Buy Nothing Day This site is an index of "buy nothing" initiatives from around the world. I recommend spending some time wandering around this site. You'll be surprised what you learn.
• BuyNothingDay.org

You can try your own Buy Nothing Day on Black Friday or another day. What does it feel like to try to get through an entire day without spending any money on food, gas, other basics, or extras? Remember, credit card, internet, cell phone and other purchases count. Good luck!