Some Black Friday History -
In 1924, the Eaton's parade inspired Macy's Department Store to launch its famous Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Macy's wanted to celebrate its success during the Roaring 20's and the parade ended up boosting shopping for the following day.
In the 1950s, people began calling in sick the say after Thanksgiving, essentially giving themselves a four-day weekend. Since stores were open, as were most businesses, those calling out could also get a head start on their holiday shopping. Many businesses started adding that day as another paid holiday reflected in today's four day weekend.
The origin of the term "Black Friday" comes from 1950s Philadelphia when the police department there used it to describe the chaos that ensued when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded into the city in advance of the big Army-Navy Football game held on that Saturday every year. Not only would Philly cops not be able to take the day off, but they would have to work longer shifts to deal with additional crowds and traffic.
The term eventually spread throughout the country by the 80s with business marketers advertising discounts and attempting to mark the occasion when retailers go from "red to black" making a profit. The attempt to wash over the chaotic origin of the term Black Friday has definitively failed as chaos persists. The deals and store openings continue to encroach on the thanksgiving holiday as retailers face failure and extinction from e-commerce competition.
Instead of Black Friday
What should be the media focus and general humanity focus is that this Saturday, Nov 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations in our world today.
To get informed and read more details on the topic and methods undertaken to expose and eliminate violence against women and girls see the below links and consider making a donation.
UNITE to End Violence Against Women - UN Secretary General Campaign
Spotlight Initiative - Initiative to bring focused attention to this issue, moving it into the spotlight and placing it at the center of efforts to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Music
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Thank U - Alanis Morissette (Thanksgivingish)
Home - LCD Soundsystem
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