Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Haley Scholars (Group 2) Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "Friday Black"


[Haley Reading Groups Spring 2022] 

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "Friday Black" is an unlikely zombie tale. The story is about a salesperson's experiences and observations at a mall when people trample over each other as they rabidly struggle in trance-like states of consciousness to purchase goods on Black Friday.

The story presents brutal violence in vivid detail of customers rushing in and fighting for products. "Friday Black" offers a kind of dark humor. On the one hand, it's almost amusing that people would be this intense about Black Friday sales. On the other hand, it's a sad, disturbing commentary that things might get this bad.

What stood out to you more -- the disturbing details of the actual story OR the idea that something along these lines could happen in real life? Briefly (one or two sentences) explain why you made the choice that you did.

54 comments:

Taylor C said...

Taylor Corbin Said
I was more disturbed by the fact that I could see this happening in real life. Often, people get so engrossed in trying to have the latest, most expensive thing that they fail to realize that isn't what really matters. It's like things and something they can't even afford are more important than another person's life or even their own. Like in the story, someone would be will to seriously injury someone for a new products.

Shaquerria Cole said...

The fact that something along these lines could happen at Black Friday sells stood out the most. It kind of is every man for themselves.

Marlon C said...

What stood out the most to me is that I really could see things like this happening in real life. It so mind blowing that society has normalized Black Friday shopping and hurting people. Better known as, a "bone rush" to get materialized things. Which will result in people getting hurt just for new things that are on sale. Black Friday shopping is the equivalent of every man for themselves.

Justin Burns said...

While reminiscing on "Friday Black" from a salesperson's experience deeply hits home when I think of the brutal behavior during black Fridays in my hometown. I've seen customers repeatedly "trample" over each other regardless of whether it was a woman, someone's child or even someone holding a child from within. I think the idea of something along the lines could and HAS happened in real life puts me more in shock! It's fascinating to see how much of my real experiences and spectating that relate to this. This is because I've always seen myself as the only "bothered" person viewing it.

Airika C. said...

What really shocked me is that on black Fridays it usually goes something like it did in the book. Many people love black Friday because they are able to get expensive things for a cheaper price. They trample and bite all over each other for something so materialistic. The people who were dragging their kids around in that is what's really sad because even the children were being hurt just because their parents are being needy knowing that the stuff she gets isn't important. Black Friday turns people into wild animals.

Elizabeth Alao said...

What stood out the most to me is the fact that this is definite possibility that it could happen in real life. While the disturbing details of the story is very deep, it scarier that those disturbing details could become reality and people might actually fight each other and get very violent over sales. Black Friday sales is about getting the best deals for yourself and it's all about looking out for your own which could cause great violence and consequences that we can't come back from.

Mysaiah Chambers said...

I wish I could say I am surprised, but sadly I'm not. People are so selfish and will do anything to get pleasure which is having the latest invention out. It's sad what the world has come to and I hope to see more caring and love in the future.

Anijah Barringer said...

The disturbing details of the actual story stood out to me the most, but After reading “Friday Black” it had me thinking. Black Friday in the real world is taken very seriously. People wait outside for hours overnight no matter what the weather is, I have even seen people set up tents. I don’t know what it is but people can get really evil when it comes to having the “last slice.” People have gotten into fights and trampled over people during the actual Black Fridays and people have been injured due to it. They don’t care who it is, if they want it they risk everything to try to get it.

-Anijah B.

Harrison B. said...

I think what stood out the most to me was the fact that this can happen in real life. Goods have taken over our lives completely and consumers will do almost anything to get those goods. They will hurt other humans just for an electronic that is half the price on this specific day. I just do not think it is ever that serious, and it makes me angry when I see it in real life.

Raven DeWalt said...

Raven Dewalt

What stood out to me the most, is that things like this actually happen in real life. They normalize Black Friday as a way to get expensive things for low prices, but in the midst of it all during this time people are hurting one another to get those things. I've witnessed this myself, people fighting for things and it doesn't end well. Also what I really don't like about Black Friday is that in the olden days, it was used for the selling of slaves after thanksgiving.

Shakyiah C said...

The disturbing details of the story stood out to me more because of the constant theme of Hunger. I don't believe this will be our reality mostly because of the internet and online shopping.

Layla Brooks said...

The idea that they painted about Friday Black which is based on Black Fridays and how the crowd reacts to each other during it is spot on. It's like people change or they get even more feisty over materialistic things. That they might injure someone but there is no sympathy for it as long as they get the item they wanted.

Unknown said...

What stood out the most to me is that I can see this happening in real life. It's shocking what people would do on Black Friday for material things. People get hurt due to other's greedy ways.
-Ivorie Arthurs

Tomia B. said...

What stood out the most to me was the fact that these events could take place in real life. Black Friday is supposed to be an enjoyable day that involves saving, yet imagining disturbing events as mentioned in the book could make you think otherwise.

Amy descollines said...

I think what stood out to me is that something like this could happen in real life. We live in a materialistic world and many people would go to drastic measure to ensure that their belongings are safe. Sometimes they fail to realize the bigger picture I’m life.
Amy Descollines

Latavia Bryant said...

What stood out to me most coming from a salesperson is how realistic it is to real life. Black Friday is very brutal for no reason just to get "name brand" things for cheap. It makes me never go black Friday shopping but stick to cyber-Monday.

Saniya Buck said...

What stood out to me the most is that this could really happen in real life, might've already happened as well. The story is very deep and scary to read about because of how detailed the story is. Black Friday is about getting a great deal with the family but now days everything is crazy, most people would shop online and sometimes you cant always get the same deal online and in-store.

Sheena C. said...

The facts and descriptive details of the story are nowhere near disturbing or new. These events have happened before. The zombies represent a mob-mentality of apathy with people unconsciously acting a certain way. For instance, these people are getting to buy lower priced items on black Friday so they are making that conscious effort. However, once they get to the store and see the crowded people their animalistic behavior becomes more hyped up making them become the violent undead. This already happens in our day to day, lots of us are zombies to somethings like social media, school, social. We can unconsciously do things without knowing what we are actually doing.

Maya Chapman said...

I thought it was very interesting how they used this story to portray what Black Friday can really be like.

Cidney C. said...

For me, it's a little bit of both. The way the author went into detail about what was happening made it disturbing, but it's also disturbing how I can actually picture this happening in real life. Black Friday has always been a very crazy holiday.

Alexis D said...

The part that stood out to me would be the disturbing details. The part that good me in the chapters was the black friday because before everything started to be online shopping on Black friday people would physically fight over things that they wanted. Now we don’t see as much of this on black friday because black friday shopping is mostly online.

Arieona B. said...

For me what stood out the most was the disturbing details of the actual story. I say this because to me it's what Black Friday really is in real life just described in a more extreme way, people do go crazy like that during Black Friday sales if you think about it.
-Arieona B.

Willie D said...

I liked how they described the details of Black Friday. It was interesting because there is more online shopping.

Raven Ginger said...

The disturbing details of the actual story stood out to me because I could not get past the lady with the grey scarf saying her daughter and husband were weak because they died along the way to her getting a new coat and a new TV! I also couldn’t get past the part where the grown woman hit a kid in the cheek over some clothes that weren’t her size and when she realized that she threw them on top of the bleeding kid!
-Raven Ginger

Itangishatse Bujeni said...

I would say the most most disturbing aspect for me was the fact that this could very well happen in real life. I just think it’s insane what consumerism had done to society’s minds, blindly purchasing things that sit in the corners of our basements because it’s just popular to have things, being trapped by “deals” and not thinking about what we’re putting our money into and even hurting each other. Sales like these never fail to amaze me.

Brooke Harris said...

What stood out to me was the idea that this does happen, but the perspective it was put in I think was brilliant with the title idea. 'Friday Black' implies that it is a backwards view of black Friday, and black Friday highlights sales more than brutality while 'Friday Black' does the opposite as the title entails.

-Brooke Harris

McKenna C. said...

The thought that society can easily head down this path is more disturbing. I've seen how people react just trying to buy expensive shoes and the violence that comes with it. "Black Friday" brings out the worst in people and it's crazy that it's becoming normal to hear about violence occurring from shopping.

McKenna C.

Kelan Branch said...

It disturbed me that something like this would happen in real life because there are many cases were people would steal, get hurt, or killed over materialistic things. It really shows the dark truth about Black Friday, that it's corrupted by greed

kelly said...

The idea that something like that could happen in real life is disturbing. People put a lot of value in material things. Amoya B

Jordan L Allen said...

I'm not really disturbed about this situation happening on Black Friday but this is an event that could occur in real life. Some people in life want something so bad that they are willing to assault another person just to get what they want due to uncontrolled greed. However, some people can be passive and may not even attempt such an action, especially when it's against the law in some countries.

Marina B. said...

Something like this does happen, maybe it is a little exaggerated compared to real-life, but people go mad and rabid over black Friday sales. They do attack each other and give up their humanity essentially, whether it's to look cool or provide for their children.

Unknown said...

I feel like the most disturbing part of this story was the very real possibility of that being a reality. It's so similar to how some of our present day Black Fridays go, and it's truly sad. People will get in fist fights with strangers for materialistic items.

- Camille Brown

Damilola Adebisi said...

Damilola Adebisi
What I found interesting and disturbing at the same time is the amount of details the author put in the story. It gives the reader an imagery and makes it seem like I could actually see the image the author was trying to depict. This aspect was interesting to me. At the same time it was also disturbing envisioning this image. It kind of scares me a little bit because this could also happen in real life. Overall I thought it was a great reading, it makes the reader feel as if they actually in the story and seeing this happening.

Muhammed Aboderin said...

I am not surprised that something like this could happen in real life, I say this because, at the few times of the year when everything you could ever want is affordable, some people would do anything to get what they want.

Ruth B. said...

What stood out to me more was the idea that something along these lines could happen in real life. The story and history/ modern idea of Black Friday displays violence between people just to buy products just to contributes to capitalism. It is blown out of proportion every time a Black Friday sale happens, and it displays unnecessary brutality.


-Ruth B.

Shelbe D said...

What stood out the most to me is the fact that this is definite possibility that it could happen in real life. While the disturbing details of the story is very deep, it scarier that those disturbing details could become reality and people might actually fight each other and get very violent over sales. Shelbe Davis

Jordan Barnes said...

Over the year I have seen this type of people, trying to get the latest things out there new phones, new cars, new everything. In my option, I don't think none of that's more important than life. I believe that family, friends, and special pets are more important than money.

Udochukwu Chikere said...

The sad part is this actually occurs in real life, almost in the same animalistic way too. People fighting each other for markdowns, which in most cases aren't even markdowns. Companies put flashy numbers to lure people into false savings. There have been instances where people have been trampled to death during black Friday. Very sad to see people add this way due to capitalism.
- Udochukwu Chikere

Starr C said...

The part that disturbed me the most was that this could happen in real life. I've heard how people have been hurt before on "Black Friday" and I don't think it's impossible for it to get worst.
-Starr C

Erin Myers said...

Jordan B.:

What stood out the most to me was the fact that these events could happen in real life. I feel like people would do anything for the latest sales and or deals. Which is kind of sad.

Aaron Crawford said...

What stood out to me was the fact that all this very well could happen in real life. Especially during a time like Black Friday, when people will do anything to get whatever they're after even when it's not even that serious. I've never heard a Black Friday story that was dark as this, but the scary thing about it is it could very well get very dark one year.

THIANE DIOP said...

What stood out to me how realistic this is. A lot of people do not know the real history of Black Friday which is very upsetting because it is rooted in slavery and it is very dark. I do not believe that we should even have a Black Friday in general and we should abolish it. Every year during Black Friday we do unfotuanlty have people die over objects and other materialistic things, so for this to happen I 100% believe. Its already happening just a little bit not large, but I think maybe in 10 or more years it will like how its described in the book.

Erin Myers said...

Thiane D.:

What stood out to me how realistic this is. A lot of people do not know the real history of Black Friday which is very upsetting because it is rooted in slavery and it is very dark. I do not believe that we should even have a Black Friday in general and we should abolish it. Every year during Black Friday we do unfortunately have people die over objects and other materialistic things, so for this to happen I 100% believe. Its already happening just a little bit not large, but I think maybe in 10 or more years it will like how its described in the book.

Kambria Childress said...

Kambria C. said
What surprised me the most was that on black Fridays, everything usually goes as described in the book. For something so superficial, they trample and bite each other. People are often so preoccupied with having the latest, most expensive item that they fail to recognize that this isn't what really matters.

Naomi B. said...

The fact that this could possibly happen stood out to me more than the disturbing details. The disturbing details are actually what kept me interested while the possibility of this happening worried me a little bit. It's sad to say but people are greedy like this which gives me that feeling that this could possibly happen.

Jasmine D said...

The disturbing details of the actual story stood out to me the most, but After reading “Friday Black” it had me thinking and realizing how closely related the story was to real life. Black Friday, to most people, is taken very seriously. People wait outside for hours, and sometimes even overnight, no matter what the weather is like you will always see a group of people waiting till the very second the door opens up. I have even seen people set up tents in the lines or even the parking lots. I don’t know what it is about big sales that get people so competitive but people can get really defensive when it comes to having the “last slice.” People have gotten into fights and trampled over people during the actual Black Fridays and people have been injured, or in most serious cases even killed, due to it. They don’t care who it is, if they want it they risk everything to try to get it.
-Jasmine D

Erin Myers said...

Alex C.:

I think it is crazy that an even such as that could happen on black Friday. It shows that its every man for themselves and its crazy to know this is where this "holiday" came from.

Erin Myers said...

Tyler B.:

What stood out the most is the potential reality of something like this occurring. Depending on the area and circumstances scoring expensive items for cheap prices can make people go nuts!! From charging at people, running, shoving etc. causes so much chaos in stores on Black Friday! It is sad that this has gotten so bad that many good deals or sales only partake online for the sake of people's lives these days as people will go any length for materialistic items!

Erin Myers said...

Corey A.:

I think its just crazy how Black Friday is a day where people go crazy over object that are just a little cheaper then normal.

Erin Myers said...

Chanel B.:

What stood out more to me was the disturbing details of the actual story. The reason I say this is because just thinking about it if an actual person went through these types of things that would be horrible. Also, things like that happens on Black Friday if that would've happened to me on Black Friday while I'm shopping, and I get bone rushed just for shopping that'll be so horrible and disturbing.

Abdixakin A. said...

What stood out to me is how people are spending so much more on name-brand items. Spending so much on an item that has the same function as the alternative brand is pointless and just shows how materialistic people can be.

Chidi Anyamele said...

The thing that stood out to me was how the author used the story to portray how Black Friday can be like in real life. Also, I feel like the extreme detail of the story played a key role in its depiction as well. It's a very hectic and stressful shopping season so I wouldn't doubt that some of the stuff said could/would happen in reality.
-Chidi Anyamele

Deborah Adekale said...

I found the way they talked about Friday Black interesting because while it is exactly like Black Friday in the real world, I find that for some people they feel like they have to transform in order to survive. Not saying they should harm others or turn into animalistic beings, but I think they see it as a way to get ahead in life.
-Deborah Adekale

Erin Myers said...

Allana B.:

What stood out to me the most was the fact that these things can happen in real life, I feel like I want to be surprised by the inhumane things that can happen all while black Friday shopping, but I am honestly not surprised because this could be our reality. People were so selfish and only trying to make sure that they got things for themselves that they would cause physical harm to people for materialistic items. I just cannot wrap my mind around this.