Why Do We Call Today “Black Friday”?

Last updated on: December 2, 2013 at 10:45 am by Paul Louis Metzger

Why Do We Call Today “Black Friday”? 2013-12-02T10:45:28-08:00 Paul Louis Metzger

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I have come across a few answers as to why people call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday.” One answer is that “Black Friday” was coined by the Philadelphia Police Department based on the overwhelming and chaotic influx of traffic and pedestrian activity associated with Christmas shopping on the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving. “Black Friday” is also associated with the economic upturn involving the shopping cycle leading to Christmas where retailers turn from being in the red to going in the black and making profits.

I must confess that when I came across the first explanation, my mind went back to the “Malcolm X” movie where Detroid Red (later Malcolm X) is told in prison that “black” is always associated with negative factors and forces in the English language and white is associated with positive factors and forces. I am not claiming that the Philadelphia Police Department had such connotations in mind, but only that the term “black” has often been used for negative depictions. Given the negative connotations associated with the term, it is important to problematize the terms “white and black” and other colors in the economy, in Sunday School literature (where “black” is often associated with sin and evil and “white” with holiness and righteousness), and in our treatments of Christmas. As much as I like the movie “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, a remake of the movie would be best in living color—in other words, not so white and positively inclusive of black. Moreover, it would be a whole lot more positive and wholesome than the 1974 movie “Black Christmas,” which was about the terrorizing of a sorority house during Christmas break (the same goes for the 2006 version).

At least the term “black” is often construed positively in economic terms: “black” is associated with profit. Of course, such positive economic connotations are not universally so, as illustrated in “Black Market.” Moreover, while I want to problematize the terminology, I also want to problematize the subtle or not so subtle reality that often lurks behind economic “Black Friday” itself–inordinate consumption. A friend once jokingly said to me: “Save the world; spend money.” Not everyone is joking, though. So many if not all of us today put more stock in the stock market than the biblical narrative’s kingdom calculus: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV) And is there not more than humor behind the post-9/11 New Yorker cartoon caption that said, “I figure if I don’t have that third martini, then the terrorists win”? As funny as it is, the prevailing worldview that makes it sound so funny is not funny at all.

What is not so black and white about consumerism pertains to how we have become increasingly dependent on it as a society, and perhaps as far-reaching as the majority of the globe. While consumption is a part of our daily lives, inordinate consumption is the real problem, as illustrated in the Christmas movie “What Would Jesus Buy?” As a culture, we are addicted to consumption, as many have argued. However, if we stop excessive shopping, what would happen to our economy? And if the economy takes another downturn, what will happen to the poor, who appear to be impacted most severely each time the economy takes a nose dive? I have written on this subject elsewhere: “Consumerism, the Third Martini and the Terrorists.” To me, the answer is not in trickle-down economics, but trickle-up economics, as a blog post that will appear in mid-December will highlight. Even so, things aren’t so black and white. Even white and black aren’t so black and white.

This piece is cross-posted at The Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins and at The Christian Post.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 27, 2013

A Thanksgiving Reflection: God’s Gracious Love Fosters an Ethic of Gratitude

Next Post

December 2, 2013 Ayn Rand, Christians and Altruism

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz