Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Haley Scholars (Group 4) 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.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that the disturbing details are what stood out the most. It is fun to see black friday, something that is already exaggerated, be blown up even more. It is funny to think of the customers as zombie-like like the story describes them.

Dayevion M

La’ Raye said...

Many people have shopping obsessions that are so strong that they overlook the value of someone's life or their own safety. This sort of thing could happen in real life. People would seriously injure someone or take a product from a dead body for a new product, just like in the story.

-La'Raye Littlepage

Audriahna Macklin said...

Some of the disturbing details that stood to me is how aggressive people get in this story and all for a good deal. I think that is the reason why a lot of people have started shopping online during that time.

-Audriahna Macklin

Valarie M said...

I think what stood out to me the most is the fact that things like what is mentioned in the story could happen. What's actually worse is that people know what they do during that big time is wrong but they don't care who they hurt or the consequences. - Valarie M

Jarrod Rhodes said...

The disturbing details of the story stood out the most since people are willing to kill each other for materials; even family members are not safe.

Jarrod Rhodes

Amir Madison said...

What stood out most to me is the fact that the details within the story could potentially happen in real life and may have already happened in real life, but they may not have been brought to public attention.

Cameron kellogg said...

The disturbing details of the story stood out to me more. Even though anything can happen in the real world, you may not be able to catch all of it. That’s why in the story you get to read and imagine everything that’s going on.

Trista Mazyun said...

What stood out to me more was the fact that this could happen in real life, if it already hasn't. This stood out to me more because it's frightening to think of something like that occuring over material items.

Lauren M said...

What stood out to me is that these are real-life stories. The shopping story really showed people really go out and kill people for no reason it's so crazy. The lack of morality of people in these stories is so offputting.

Jania M. said...

The disturbing details that stood out to me in the story is that people would go crazy over trying to get materials from the store it's not that serious to try and hurt others to get stuff that you want. The stories I've heard about people getting violent on Black Friday, I've never truly experienced it just because of that. -Jania M

Ciaunna M. said...

The fact this could actually happen in real life stood out to me the most. This simply stuck out because I could witness this knowing that I worked retail during black Friday and I also love black Friday shopping and the sales. -Ciaunna M.

Meikiyia Roberts said...

I think what stood out most to me is the way that everything was described. The way that it was described was comedic but relatable to people who have been in those types of situations.--Meikiyia R.

Destiny Moore said...

The disturbing details was something that definitely stood out to me because to think black Friday could turn into something much more is what makes this reading a whole lot interesting.

-Destiny Moore

Sierrea McNiff said...

The disturbing details of the story stood out to me. As soon as the doors are opened, a little girl gets trampled and nearly killed. She was even almost swept into the designated body pile. No one participating in Black Friday has any morals besides Duo.

Dakahi L said...

What stood out to me the most is the disturbing details in the story. Things like that can definitely happen in real life or probably already has happened. It is also crazy how hectic black friday gets in the story.

- Dakahi L.

Amarie McCleary said...

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.

What stood out to me the most is the idea that something alone these lines could happen in real life. I made this choice because its crazy to think that people would turn into animal like things just to get the chance to shop at a lower price.

-Amarie McCleary

Jason Newman said...

What stood out to me the most was how these details could happen in real life. On black friday, things like this could happen(and probably have) and no one would really bat an eye. There would be no news coverage and people would carry on "because its black friday and its normal to act crazy".

Nyah Marcano said...

One thing in Black Friday that really stood out to me was how exaggrated and detailed the story was. I feel like this helps push the realism of this story, and the idea that people today can be pushed to act in an extreme ways just to get material items.
-Nyah Marcano

Jalen Q. said...

I think the fact that something like this could happen stood out to me more. Considering that it has happened to a far lesser extent than this story. People fight over thing on Black Friday all of the time and there are plenty of injuries.

Paul Olubodun said...

The thing that stood out to me most was the disturbing details of the actual story. This is because of a time in the beginning when a little girl was trampled and was just about to be thrown into the body pile but then her mother tells them she is still alive and keeps on shopping with the injured little girl.

Ian Lindsey said...

One thing in the story that surprised me was the idea that something like that could happen in real life. I heard that Black Fridays can be hectic but reading this makes me want to research more into what happens on Black Fridays.

-Ian Lindsey

Josiah Olden said...

The disturbing details of the actual story are what stood out to me the most because the author described an already exaggerated event as a zombie apocalypse. I think the way that the author describes the customers and how gruesome they are to each other, especially the children, was insane. However, the story is almost exactly parallel to how Black Friday shoppers act. It was a great story!

Devin Perry said...

I found it more disturbing that this happens in real life. I am witness of this myself as I usually spend my Black Fridays out in the malls and stores. I understand the want to go shopping and the want to get new things that are on sale. But the way people handle themselves and act is quite ridiculous.

-Devin Perry

Alexis Price said...

The disturbing details are what of the actual story. Black Friday is definitely exaggerated a lot and the fact that in the story the little girl got trampled was sad it shouldn't be such a big deal for big sales to have adults trample kids.

Jercura K. said...

The idea that something like this can actually happen is the thing that gets me the most. Materialistic things are all people tend to care about, so much so that they would be willing to kill for it.

Jercura K. said...

I think the fact that something like this could happen in real life is the most disturbing thing. Its crazy how people will go to great lengths going as far as to killing someone to obtain something that doesn't go with them when they die.

-Jercura Kindred

Omari Riley said...

I think the there was a lot of realism in the story but was exaggerated for effect. The dark parts of black friday shopping is not talked about enough at all and it is very concering to be honest.

Marquis P said...

I think the disturbing details of the actual story stood out to me for this one. I've never personally experienced a "Black Friday" before, but I've always known how scary and violent people could get. I really loved the over-the-top exaggeration in this story, it's something that makes these stories worthwhile to read.

RYAN PARHAM said...

I think the details stood out to me. I have never been the most excited about black Friday due to an violent incident when I was younger. I could honestly see people turning into zombies for black Friday because it already feels that way now. The exaggeration is refreshing and funny while being true.

Chris Rhodes said...

What stood out to me more is the idea that something along these lines could happen in real life. I made this choice because Black Friday already exists, and it’s known for being intense and savage. “Friday Black” could be foreshadowing what Black Friday will be like in the future.

Chris Rhodes

Niate Kina said...

What stood out to me was how outlandish the customer's injuries were. This is because it said some people had mangles ears, and some were even beaten to death, over something as simple as a name brand coat.

Erin Myers said...

Makiah Lewis said...
What stood out to me was how much chaos was going on. It's a little frightening because this seems almost like a riot, and those happen nowadays.

-Makiah Lewis

April 6, 2022 at 6:03 PM
(Originally posted to https://www.culturalfront.org/2022/04/haley-scholars-group-5-nana-kwame-adjei.html)

Erin Myers said...

Kaylin P.:

The story was very straightforward and blunt. I was very confused at first, but I understood what was going on. The amount of violence wasn’t the most surprising thing to me. I think what stood out the most to me was the fact that people in this story would go that far, and possibly die just to get a product. When the lady with the HD TV said her family died trying to get stuff. It made me wonder what the point of all of this was now that she doesn’t have a family to enjoy the TV with.

Erin Myers said...

Tyra O.:

What stood out to me was that it is like a real-life story. Black Friday you see a lot of fighting over stuff things. I hate Black Friday.

Erin Myers said...

Kevyere M.:

The idea that shoppers stampede through aisles of stores for discounted attire does happen in modern society. Quite frankly, I do find it funny how the salesperson describes the customers who are trampling over each other for some jeans as “vicious, insatiable Black Friday shoppers”

Erin Myers said...

Taniah P.:

This story has so much detail, its crazy to me. Because this stuff in the book is happening today ,tomorrow and in the future. Is this the history behind Black Friday? This book goes beep in to reality.

Erin Myers said...

Sophina K.:

The disturbing details of the actual story and the fact that this could happen in real life is what stood out to me most. On Black Friday, I can actually see the people becoming zombies, becoming aggressive and just going crazy. It’s actually kind of scary.

Aunye Harrold said...

I think it is weird that people will risk their lives and other peoples just to get items even if they are heavily discounted. Going into a riot and causing a riot is extreme. These days it seems most sales have moved online so it's a bit better.

Mar'Taejia Murphy said...

Somethings that were disturbing to me is how people would act just over some Black Fridays sales. All of these actions just for some deals , I can't say that they aren't good deals because they are but still. Also Most Of the things that are listed in the story ca happen in real life or already happened in real life .

Kizito Nwauwa said...

When reading “Friday Black” by Nana Kwame Adeji-Brenyah, what stood out to me wasn’t the realistic aspect of the situation, but more so the overall content of that scenario. It is portrayed in a way that makes it relatable to those who lived those experiences. Although Adeji-Brenyah tries to add a comedic aspect to it, it is still appalling that people will fight and risk their lives over material items.

--Kizito Nwauwa

Erin Myers said...

Rashad Pipkins said...
The events that took place in the book stood out the most to me because they were very realistic. The world has been an evil place for a very long time and this book properly depicts the hardships that Aftrican Americans face.

April 12, 2022 at 4:28 PM
(Originally posted to https://www.culturalfront.org/2022/04/haley-scholars-group-5-nana-kwame-adjei.html)

Isiah Miller said...

What's really interesting to me about this story is how exaggerated everything is. Of course, the book made Black Friday seem even worse than it is, but people have actually died due to Black Friday shopping, which is a scary thought to think of.

Akuchukwu O. said...

What stood out to me the most is how much people cared for materialistic things, as fr as going to the extent of killing or hurting others to get something they desire.

Unknown said...

The details of the story weren't disturbing to me because people are really like that. It happens in real life people will fight each other and be ready to kill each other over black friday. Every year it's nothing new.


Emyia Kirksey

Erin Myers said...

Cierstin N.:

The aggressive actions and attitudes of the shoppers during Black Friday was the detail that stood out to me. Today, many people are obsessed with getting items on a discount or deal, or even just having items no matter the price. The disturbing points in this story, especially the dead body, are very intense and scary because it is not impossible that people could get hurt at Black Friday sales from other customers, or even die from the fights that break out from the sales.

Erin Myers said...

Vashanti R.:

What I found most surprising is the secrets about retail. Most people think of fast food as being horrible but in reality many workplaces has its secrets that aren’t exposed.

Erin Myers said...

Leroy P.:

The thing that I took from the reading was how disturbing the stories were when describing black Friday. This is why I've always for the most part did black Friday online.

Erin Myers said...

Theon'Janae P.:

The disturbing details was something that definitely stood out to me because to think black Friday could turn into something much more is what makes this reading a whole lot interesting.