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Kaylyn Logue
Mr. Munoz
English D.C., Per. 5
9 December 2014
Argument Paper 1st Draft
THESIS: Black Friday is harming people.
Thanksgiving is a day where the house is filled with delicious smells of food, as well as
the laughter of families spending time together. However, this Thanksgiving reputation has
changed due to Black Friday. Families are no longer sitting around the table sharing memories of
past holidays, and then sitting on the couch watching football. Instead, families are being split up
- some members are forced to go deal with mayhem of Black Friday, while others are joining in
the chaos. This shows that Black Friday is harming both shoppers, as well as department store
workers and their families.
Black Friday is starting earlier and earlier each year. The title of this holiday is
deceiving since it is no longer beginning on Friday, but Thursday (Kerrigan). Gander Mountain,
Radio Shack, and K-Mart are all starting early Thursday morning (Kerrigan). Toys R Us,
JCPennys, and Macys sales begin before the clock strikes midnight on Thursday (Kerrigan). If
Black Friday is not controlled, it will soon be known as Black Thursday (Jamieson). However,
people argue that having Black Friday begin on Thursday is more beneficial because there is
more time to shop. Although people spending money may help the economy, there are other
ways to this (Jamieson). Cyber Week, specifically Cyber Monday provides just as many deals, if
not better than Black Friday (10 Reasons). Shipping also has become less expensive since the
United States Postal Service slashed shipping costs for select businesses by up to 58%,

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(Ramirez). This allows people to help boost the economy, as well as spend time with their
families on Thanksgiving a real holiday (10 Reasons). There is also plenty of time twentyseven days to be exact between Thanksgiving and Christmas to hold sales (10 Reasons).
Steven Pressman, an economics and finance professor at Monmouth University, states that, If
the store doesn't open on that Thursday, will that same consumer be there on Friday, Saturday or
Sunday? Probably so, (Griffith). Bed Bath & Beyond and Dillards for example, are two of the
few stores who did not cross the line of opening their stores on Thanksgiving (Griffith). Most
shoppers are also unaware that some of the exact same sales are offered weeks before and after
Black Friday (10 Reasons). Stores typically mark down prices right after Christmas as well
(10 Reasons). This shows that the Black Friday deals are not that rare (10 Reasons). Black
Friday claims to have the best deals of the year, but that is not exactly true.
When Black Friday comes around department stores are focused on the potential
shoppers that would fill their stores, not their employees. Most people are unaware of how much
of an impact Black Friday is on department store workers, as well as the workers families
(Jamieson). Workers are given small increases in pay time and a half when working on Black
Friday (Jamieson). Walmart employees, for example, are forced to leave their families on
Thanksgiving for $10.40 an hour family time is worth more than that (Brenzel). The poor
working conditions that these employees endure is known by the numerous protests that were
held on Black Friday (Brenzel). Wal-Mart employees boycotted all over America this Black
Friday (Brenzel). In North Bergen, around 300 people protested the Wal-Marts low pay
(Brenzel). Department stores try to defend working on Black Friday by claiming that employees
volunteer to work during Black Friday (Jamieson). However, if there is not enough volunteers
department stores will then force their employees to work this is what happened at Banana

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Republic in New Yorker (Jamieson). An unnamed employee stated, he wouldnt be surprised if
a manager asked him to come in if they dont get enough volunteers, (Jamieson). Pressman also
points out that, "If one store opens earlier, it might be able to steal some Christmas business.
Then others will start opening earlier, and pretty soon all of the stores are open on
Thanksgiving," (Griffith). This year, target employees, for the first time ever, are going to have
to work on Thanksgiving because of this rivalry (Jamieson). This proves that Black Friday is
destroying a familys time together because of business owners greed.
Department store commercials show Black Friday shoppers with large smiles on their
faces while pushing a cart full of products to their cars. However, what exactly did those
shoppers have to go through in order to make it out of the stores with those gifts? Most
commercials fail to show the actual events that occur in their stores on Black Friday most of
the events that end in injuries. Black Friday injuries have become more common throughout the
years people are becoming savages simply for a good deal. This year, a womans enraged exboyfriend in Chicago went to the make-up counter at Nordstorms where she was working on
Black Friday and shot her and himself (Women shot). You Li, a Nordstorm shopper, stated
that, The staff just said to just run theres an emergency, (Woman shot). This proves that
there is no security, and a lack of procedure during Black Friday making it dangerous (Woman
shot). Last year, a man shopping on Black Friday in Virginia, was stabbed over an argument
(Black Friday). However, what makes this story even more disheartening is the reason why the
man lost his life: a parking spot (Black Friday). The chaos of Black Friday is also extending
outside of the United States (Black Friday). In the United Kingdom this Black Friday a woman
broke her wrist and hurt her head because of a fight over a discounted television (Black
Friday). Black Friday is also having an effect on shoppers after they leave the store (Black

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Friday). In 2013, a teen was killed after dozing off while driving she had just finished
participating in the Black Friday shopping (Black Friday). From 2006 to 2014 there has been 7
deaths and 97 reported injuries because of Black Friday madness (Black Friday). This proves
that Black Friday not only has poor working conditions, but as well as dangerous shopping
conditions.
Hundreds of shoppers wait outside department stores for the Black Friday deals to begin.
Shoppers frustration, after waiting hours for the store to open, rises when they discover that the
item they waited for is sold out ("10 Reasons). Although many stores claim that they will give
doorbusters to all those who wait in line, this is not a promise that they can keep for every
customer (Ramirez). Doorbusters, for example, are aimed products for most customers because
of their low prices (Ramirez). However, most customers will not receive these items because
there is a small quantity of door busters (Ramirez). Some stores claim to give a special item to
those who wait in line by giving them a small token such as a wristbands (Ramirez). The
customers will then receive the item, but not right away, and not particularly the one they wanted
(Ramirez). Fights also begin over other items such as T.V.s and tablets (Hallowell). The fighting
does not end there though: some shoppers go to the extent of fighting with other over small gifts
such as lingerie (Hallowell). However, they cannot control what other people do just to get a
good deal.
A solution to Black Friday can be summed up in two words: blue laws. Blue laws were
originally made to encourage "people to go to church on Sunday and holidays." However, since
these laws were designed in the colonial era, there are only three state that abide by them:
Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island. By having blue laws, families are not rushing to go
shopping, and employees are not forced to go into work on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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However, since only three states have laws forbidding Black Friday from starting on
Thanksgiving, John B. Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, asks the
question, "Are Massachusetts blue laws stopping consumers from shopping? Or are they just
stopping them from shopping in Massachusetts?" (Kaufman). However, if blue laws were
enforced in all states, society would be able to see the true meaning of the fourth Thursday of
November - to be thankful for all the many blessings in their life.
Thanksgiving allows families to forget about their busy schedules filled with work,
obligations, and worries, and just come together. Instead of giving thanks on Thanksgiving,
people are being harmed and fighting each other over low priced items. Although people may
save hundreds of dollars because of the Black Friday deals, the chaos cannot be overlooked
because of it.

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Works Cited
"10 Reasons Black Friday Is Awful and Needs to Go Away." Business Insurance Quotes.
Business Insurance Quotes, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.

Brenzel, Kathryn. "Hundreds Protest Black Friday, Retail Wages at North Bergen Walmart."
NJ.com. NJ Advanced Media, 28 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.

Griffith, Janelle. "Black Friday 2014: Have Thanksgiving Day Deals Ruined a Retail Tradition?"
NJ.com. N.p., 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.

Kaufman, Alexander C. "Black Friday Shoppers Can't Start On Thanksgiving In 3 States." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/15/black-friday-blue-laws_n_6164332.html

Kerrigan, Paula. "Black Friday 2014 Store Hours." Dealnews. N.p., 25 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Dec.
2014.

Ramirez, Louis. "13 Ways Black Friday 2014 Will Be Different." Dealnews. Dealnews, 06 Oct.
2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

Hallowell, Billy. "Ill Kill You!: Black Friday Chaos Rages With Violent Clashes Over
Lingerie, a Police Taser and More." The Blaze. The Blaze, 28 Nov. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

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Jamieson, Dave. "Black Friday Creep Costs Retail Workers Their Thanksgiving." The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 22 Nov. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

"Black Friday Death Count." Black Friday Death Count. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.

"Woman Shot in Chicago Department Store Dies of Injuries." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 29
Nov. 2014. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

Doing more harm than good to average American.

Disregarding human rights?
Uncivilized
Selfish
Humans can lose control
Human rights?
Treating like animals