1PM is approaching on one of the busiest retail spending days of the year, and I have already done all the shopping that I am going to do today. Wanna know what I bought? A grey skull cap for $4 at the DC Farmer’s Market to replace the one that I lost last winter.
It is Black Friday, and I am purposely avoiding retail stores like the plague. Christmas shopping in itself tends to turn a potentially beautiful holiday season into a showcase of the ugly true nature of humanity. Soccer moms about to come to blows over parking spaces. Parents arguing in public in front of their children. Senior citizens getting caught stealing Rocawear hoodies out of Up Against The Wall. Kids with no home training, throwing french fries at people in the food court. Seasonal employees saying “y’all don’t pay me enough” and quitting in the middle of their shift…I’ve seen all of these things, and much more, while shopping at Christmastime.
All of these events happened at normal times of the day, so I know it has to be worse on Black Friday! I can imagine there are plenty of folks walking around the stores right now with bad attitudes who waited for places like Best Buy to open at 5AM and still haven’t found what they were looking for yet.
The only thing I like about Black Friday, is that it’s pretty much the only cultural reference out there starting with the word “black” that means something good. For those who don’t already know, the term stems from “in the black,” since retail stores tend to make large profits on this day. Usually, when people use “black” to describe things, it has negative connotations. If you’re watching a western, and a character named “Black Bart” appears, you can best believe he’s gonna rob a stagecoach or shoot some people! He’ll be referred to as ruthless, or “black-hearted.” Black Bart will then be blacklisted due to his criminal activities. Hell, the man will probably be wearing black, since that’s was the bad guy dress code in a lot of those old movies!
You know what? Next time a black cat attempts to cross my path, I am going to ignore the negative connotations and leave it alone, instead of running after it while contemplating kicking a field-goal with the thing. Not that I’d actually kick the hell out of a black cat. I just like to put the fear of God in those selfish b*tches, since they couldn’t wait two seconds for me to walk past and just had to cut me off and f*ck up my good luck for the day.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, so I won’t turn into Conspiracy Brother on you right now. However, I will take this opportunity to plug a nice gift choice that you can order out of the comforts of your home. My dude Honest Tomas sent me some of the shirts from his new clothing line recently. As I awaited the arrival of the shipment, I thought to myself, “I can re-gift these if I don’t like them, and save some money! Livin’ La Vida Cheapskate!”
Then the package arrived, and I said to myself “Aww man, I GOTTA keep these! I love these shirts!” So yeah, Honest Tomas gets a positive approval rating from me, and a free plug on the site! His website should be up next week or so, but in the meantime, you can stop by his Myspace page, or e-mail him directly at HonestTomasClothing@Gmail.com
This is one of the designs that he sent me. It actually looks even better on, and I got compliments on it Tuesday since it was warm enough for me to take off my hoodie and wear it so folks could see it.
Now that I’m done talking about black awareness and giving free commercials, I’m about to go put up my mom’s Christmas tree for her. Enjoy the rest of your day, and if you had to work today(or wake up at 4AM to shop), well…Better you than me! Hahahahaha!
I’ve wondered why it was called “Black Friday” as well. I think it’s because it’s an excuse for people to go out and spend money like stereotypical black people. Meaning “frivilously on things they don’t want or need all under the premise of a discount”. They would call it “Nigger Friday” if they could!
All that being said, I just bought a new laptop from the Apple store….. ok so what, I’m a hypocrite…. but I’m easily influenced. lol.
Oh and Honest Tomas’ line is dope!!!
I’m writing this right now from an Apple Store in Tysons Corner on Black Friday. I think I have truly lost my damn mind for coming up here on a day like this.
And just like Hustleman said, “Black Friday” means that retailers will begin to be “in the black” (making a profit) since most retailers business comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not EVERYTHING is a damn conspiracy!
Also, someone tell me why I started seeing Christmas decorations right after Labor Day in some places. Give me a break. Store, stop…
hey, no laughing at the folks who had to work the day after thanksgiving, man!!! :)
You know..that is why I love internet shopping. Because I’m not tryin to hear the stores for Xmas. Too many crazy ass people that wanna fight you for the last piece of merchandise that is on the shelf and you know damn well you got there first. But because they feel like they camped out all night long they entitled to something. Well you know what I say..fuck that. I wish a muthafucka would try and start with me!
Good post. I hope you wasn’t in all that shit though.
Dont be hatin’ on the black kitties! They need love too.
L