In Defense of Black-Ass Friday
Welcome to the 55th installment of This Black-Ass Life! This week, we’re examining why calls to boycott retailers or events like Black Friday can be harmful without considering who needs Black Friday and what supports we’d need to offer in place. Also, ‘tis the season for holiday music and movies and we’re glad about it!
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l. The Facts
In the past few years, there have been several calls to boycott Black Friday.
The reasons to boycott are very legitimate, from climate change to using Black economic and purchasing power to draw attention to the unjust murders of Black people, to curbing hyper-consumerism.
In 2014 and 2017, there were organized nationwide boycotts of Black Friday. While the impact of these protests have been inconclusive, many continue to call for boycotts every year.
From retailers like Everlane and REI to beauty brands like The Ordinary, even corporations have gotten in on the game of urging the public to not shop.
As Black Friday continues to lose favor with some, shaming and ridiculing those who choose to partake is en vogue.
Why does it matter?
We are not discounting the huge issues associated with Black Friday, but boycotting shopping is such a privilege. If you can and want to, do it, but also remember that shopping during the holiday discount season is a necessity for many.
The holiday shopping season is a great time for folks on the economic margins to find work. In 2017, for example, retailers hired between 500,000 and 550,000 seasonal workers.
People are purchasing necessities. The vast majority of purchases are travel-related items (people travel during the holidays, duh), major appliances, clothes/shoes and furniture. Contrary to popular belief, most people who don’t have a lot to begin are not breaking the bank. For example, those making between 25K and 50K spend an average of $414.
Finally and most importantly, several studies have pointed out that young single women of color with children are the biggest Black Friday participants. Simply, it is people who shop during the only time of the year when they can actually afford things.
What can my Black-ass do?
Mind the business that pays you. Don’t shame others.
If you really want to stick it to these corporations, help their workers organize and form unions. Read this FAQ on how to organize a workplace.
Urge companies to create solutions like REI, which closes online and in-person sales on Thursday and Friday while still paying all 13,000 employees (including hourly workers) for the two days.
Give your time, your money, and your kindness to those who are the most hurt in this capitalist society: poor people.
ll. Other Things
I study Spike Jonez and Spike Lee.
From Black language as “Broken English” to invoking the names of victims of police violence, get ready to yikes your way through this interview featuring Lena Waithe and Melina Matsoukas.
Kelly Rowland has never made a mistake. Check her out in her flawless Lifetime movie: Merry Liddle Christmas.
Lifetime is coming for Hallmark’s crown. Here are all of their Christmas movies, ranked, and we can comfortably vouch for the majority of these.
Billy Dee Williams uses male and female pronouns further proving genderqueer Black folks BEEN here. This isn’t new, y’all!
Remember that grandma who accidentally invited that teen to Thanksgiving? They just spent their fourth Thanksgiving together.
I (Jumoke) am currently sucked into a Black British scandal where a Nigerian “pastor” pressures young people to take out loans and give it to his church as “seed.” He has several lambos.
Twitter’s Jack Dorsey is going ✈️ Anywhere, Africa in 2020.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Jumoke):
It’s December! This song always brings me so much seasonal joy.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
I (Jumoke) am not looking forward to leaving my 32 plants alone while I’m gone for Christmas break. Pray for my babies y’all!!
I (Mitu) look forward to Tamar Braxton’s classic album Winter Loversland on loop in my home.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Dad
My (Jumoke’s) dad is proud of y’all for trying something new. Good job, Americans! However, I will not be trying any of the remixed Nigerian cuisine aimed at making it more palatable for Western taste-buds.
Stay Black, thrive and watch bad-good holiday movies. We’ll hit your inbox next on December 16.