Should People Still Boycott Black Friday? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Should People Still Boycott Black Friday?

Will one day really make that much of a difference?

33
Should People Still Boycott Black Friday?
Mad Mike's America

Following the events of Ferguson two years ago, there was a call for black people throughout the country to boycott Black Friday, which is one of the largest shopping days of the country. The movement was created on Twitter, called “#BlackoutBlackFriday” by the organization called Blackout For Human Rights. Ryan Coogler, the director of the 2013 film “Fruitvale Station” which was about the events that led up to the unjust killing of Oscar Grant by a police officer in California, started the organization.

The point of the economic protest is for black people to withdraw from participating in the lining of big corporations’ pockets. African Americans as a collective make up about $1.2 trillion in buying power in the United States. Their power alone makes them the 15th largest economy in the world by GDP (Gross Domestic Product). By boycotting one of the most lucrative days for corporations, it will cause a huge cut in profits for these big retailers. The idea is to hurt the establishment through their pockets. The only way to communicate discontent is to do it in a language this country will understand: money.

This was no different from the Montgomery Bus Boycott that took place from December 5, 1955 to December 20, 1956. The result of the boycott was the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the city of Montgomery to integrate its bus system. By blacks in the city withdrawing their funds from the municipal bus system, they utilized their economic power to make a difference. Money talks and it is the only way to truly affect change. Everything that is done always has a monetary component to it.

Considering how this country over 50 years later still has problems in terms of the civil rights of minorities being violated, I think that we as people should still protest this mistreatment by withdrawing from Black Friday this year. While the powers that control public policy and government have unlimited resources to further their agendas, we should not forget that we have considerable wealth too. We shouldn’t just buy thousands of dollars of products and act like everything is fine. No matter how much we buy, the problem won’t go away. While protests are great, we need to mobilize in a different way. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was one of the most successful protests in history. It demonstrated that black people aren’t invisible. All the issues in the black community are ignored and not discussed because we are seen as people who don’t really matter. But even if our person isn’t respected, our money is. We make up a huge part of the wealth collectively in this country. We can exploit that to further our demands. We hold the power in our pockets.

I understand that this is not what some people want to hear right now. It’s too startling; it disrupts the illusion that everything is fine. It makes people uncomfortable, but imagine how uncomfortable it must be to always fear for your life when you walk down the street? Imagine how uncomfortable it must be to worry about whether the clothes you are wearing, or if anything else on your person can be perceived as a threat enough to kill? That is why I think that for this Black Friday coming, we should boycott big corporations. If we do want to buy, we should support local, black-owned businesses. The money would be going into our communities which are where the real changes should be happening. It does us a disservice to keep funneling money to places that do not seek to reinvest it into us. But that’s a conversation for another article. For now, let’s just show that by holding back our dollars, we do in fact matter, and we will not be accepting the treatment that we have been getting in this country. Money speaks volumes, and we are screaming out to be heard and heeded.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

178333
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

5535
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451362
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22680
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments