<P> As the phrase gained national attention in the early 1980s, merchants objecting to the use of a derisive term to refer to one of the most important shopping days of the year suggested an alternative derivation: that retailers traditionally operated at a financial loss for most of the year (January through November) and made their profit during the holiday season, beginning on the day after Thanksgiving . When this was recorded in the financial records, once - common accounting practices would use red ink to show negative amounts and black ink to show positive amounts . Black Friday, under this theory, is the beginning of the period when retailers would no longer be "in the red", instead taking in the year's profits . The earliest known published reference to this explanation occurs in The Philadelphia Inquirer for November 28, 1981 . </P> <P> In 2013, an internet rumor alleged that the phrase originated in the American south before the Civil War, from the practice of selling slaves on the day after Thanksgiving . This was debunked by Snopes.com in 2015 . Although the modern American holiday of Thanksgiving is associated with the founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620, a similar annual day of thanksgiving was stipulated in the royal charter of Jamestown Colony in 1607 . </P> <P> Despite frequent attempts to control the crowds of shoppers, minor injuries are common among the crowds, usually as a result of being pushed or thrown to the ground in small stampedes . While most injuries remain minor, serious injuries and even deliberate violence have taken place on some Black Fridays . </P> <P> In 2008, a crowd of approximately 2,000 shoppers in Valley Stream, New York, waited outside for the 5: 00am opening of the local Wal - Mart . As opening time approached, the crowd grew anxious and when the doors were opened the crowd pushed forward, breaking the door down, a 34 - year - old employee was trampled to death . The shoppers did not appear concerned with the victim's fate, expressing refusal to halt their stampede when other employees attempted to intervene and help the injured employee, complaining that they had been waiting in the cold and were not willing to wait any longer . Shoppers had begun assembling as early as 9: 00 PM the evening before . Even when police arrived and attempted to render aid to the injured man, shoppers continued to pour in, shoving and pushing the officers as they made their way into the store . Several other people incurred minor injuries, including a pregnant woman who had to be taken to the hospital . The incident may be the first case of a death occurring during Black Friday sales; according to the National Retail Federation, "We are not aware of any other circumstances where a retail employee has died working on the day after Thanksgiving ." </P>

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