Critics of Black Friday shopping speculate pushing stores to open the morning of Thanksgiving will ruin the spirit of the holiday. Shopping centers all across Oahu are pairing up with local news sources to announce even earlier store openings than last year.Jaime Apiatu, a junior from Washington D.C., said, “I’m not an avid shopper, but I know people who are, and when Black Friday hits, they are completely different people.” Apiatu explained his love from Thanksgiving came from large family gatherings every year and “feeling the love” from all around. “Capitalism and our incessant need for the ‘next big thing’ is threatening this feeling,” Apiatu said.According to media analyst, Megan Marsden Christensen, shoppers can already preview “Black Friday” deals and some won’t even have to leave their homes to shop. “On Thanksgiving morning, Walmart customers will be able to purchase select items without leaving their house,” Christensen reported.It’s not just this year that attention is being given to the increasing in material consumption. Last year, UPS reports asking major online retail companies like Amazon, Ebay, etc. to “not make the mistake of offering free overnight shipping as late as Dec. 23rd.” Though this promise increased sales, “carriers just cannot deliver every late and procrastinated purchase,” explained the UPS official report.Time Magazine explains it’s not the corporation’s fault Thanksgiving is being ruined by Christmas shopping, “our shop-anytime-anywhere culture demands it.” Big department stores have no option but to open earlier to combat the competition. Masses of otherwise avid Black Friday Shoppers denounced earlier store openings despite the fact it is what they demanded themselves.Staying open for 24 hours straight also calls into question the ethics of Black Friday. Last holiday season, word leaked that Macy’s issued a poll amongst employees to see if they would be willing to work starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, while also implicitly stating they might be called in to work whether they put down yes or no on their poll.This Black Friday brings to light the backdoor happenings of the corporation-stricken population in America today. Rachel Leota, a freshman majoring in English, said, “Whether or not I wait in line the night before or early in the morning on Friday, Thanksgiving still warmed me up better than a hot deal at a department store.”
Writer: Morgynne Tora ~ Multimedia Journalist
