The black culture of Black Friday

By: Sarah Harl

A recent New York Times article closely scrutinizes the tragic story of this year's Black Friday, in which a Long Island Wal-Mart temporary worker was trampled by crowds after unlocking the doors to the store.

The article pointed out that 10 years ago, the day after Thanksgiving didn't even crack the top 10 as far as big revenue shopping days.

But thanks to newspapers that on Thanksgiving Day come stuffed to the brim with advertisements, media outlets that send camera crews to cover the events, and articles and blogs written about the best way to utilize Black Friday sales, the day has become something of a cultural phenomenon.

And one that speaks to the darker side of America, no less.

The story reports that 81% of Black Friday shoppers were shopping for themselves, not for others.

And in their rush to save $100, people trampled a human being to death, and even continued to run in the store as the paramedics were trying to help the man.

This cultural phenomenon, which the media has done a large part to help create, has now turned deadly in the most senseless of ways. People are being trampled to death at Wal-Mart and shot at Toys 'R Us.

It is time the media rethink its endorsement of Black Friday until the American people can learn to show more respect and restraint.

The media will not be able to control what at what time a store will open, or what sort of deals they will offer.

But they can choose not to show up with a camera crew. They can choose not to write or run articles promoting the most effective use of strategy at the mall.

And they can choose to take some responsibility for the monster that they helped to create.