Tipping is another oddly American tradition that we all pretty universally hate. Perhaps you did not know that the modern conception of tipping arose during reconstruction as a means to not have to pay black people for their labor. We explore the origins of this strange, uniquely American tradition, why it persists, and what is probably going to make this problem much, much worse. 

Recommendations

• Abraham: Unconscious Mind (https://luckyduckgames.com/usa/?srsltid=AfmBOor3zWBbHAlhJyg2tsekDN2j6PpVGbsEfOw5nXwKAJYmT7PnPmJV)
• Shane: Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon (https://open.spotify.com/album/3MVdeSmUl32TTzLy6dFFtZ?si=tD1AgdpJRkSxi6kRIekR6Q)

Holidays (7/9/2025):

• Call of the Horizon
• Fashion Day
• Martyrdom of the Bab
• National Don’t Put All your Eggs in One Omelet Day
• National No Bra Day
• National Sugar Cookie Day
• Durian Fruit Day
• National Dimples Day
• Argentina’s Independence Day
• Wimbledon
• Rabbit Week
• Air Conditioning Appreciation Days
• Be Nice to New Jersey Week
• Dog Days of Summer
• Freedom Week
• National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week
• National Farriers Week
• Shark Week

Links and References: 

1. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33170/33170-h/33170-h.htm
2. https://www.7shifts.com/blog/history-of-tipping-restaurants/
3. https://www.povertylaw.org/article/the-racist-history-behind-americas-tipping-culture/
4. https://www.foodwoolf.com/2010/08/history-of-tipping.html
5. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230606-how-to-tip-around-the-world
6. https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/global-tipping-guide/?cust_src=organic_search
7. https://time.com/5404475/history-tipping-american-restaurants-civil-war/ 
8. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tip-sheet/ 
9. https://www.paycor.com/resource-center/articles/minimum-wage-tipped-employees-by-state/
10. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.