{"id":12045,"date":"2020-06-19T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T11:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=12045"},"modified":"2023-02-10T13:54:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T18:54:19","slug":"elfster-juneteenth-gift-exchange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/19\/elfster-juneteenth-gift-exchange\/","title":{"rendered":"Elfster Group Supports Black-Owned Businesses for Juneteenth Gift Exchange"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Updated: June 17, 2021<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho\u2019 we may be, our destiny is tied up with America\u2019s destiny.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\u2013 Martin Luther King Jr.<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

On June 19, communities all over the nation will come together to celebrate an unofficial holiday — Juneteenth<\/a> (also known as Freedom Day, Liberation Day and Jubilee Day) — to commemorate the abolition of slavery in the United States. And as we continue to face outrage and protest sparked by ongoing racial and economic injustices in our current society, we realize the words of Martin Luther King Jr. are now as important as ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The History of Juneteenth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Emancipation
Emancipation Day Celebration band, June 19, 1900.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Though the Emancipation Proclamation<\/a> to liberate enslaved African Americans was declared by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and went into effect on January 1st, 1863, freedom did not come fast to those in remote parts of the country. In fact, the news did not reach Texas until two-and-a-half years later on June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger<\/a> and Union soldiers read the long-overdue federal orders aloud in Galveston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrations marking the occasion started as small, church-centered gatherings in Texas. According to Juneteenth.com<\/a>, recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territories. The celebration of June 19th<\/sup> was coined ‘Juneteenth’ and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early years, little interest existed outside the African American community in participation in the celebrations. In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the festivities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then on January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. Edwards, who recently passed away April 29, 2020, actively sought to spread the observance of Juneteenth all across America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He proudly stated: \u201cEvery year we must remind successive generations that this event triggered a series of events that one by one defines the challenges and responsibilities of successive generations. That\u2019s why we need this holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year marks 156 years since the original Juneteenth. Since then, generations have celebrated the trials and tribulations of their ancestors and currently 47 of the 50 states recognize it as a state holiday and at this very moment, lawmakers have declared Juneteenth a federal holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating Through Solidarity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the wake of current racial turmoil that has taken place over the past year, Juneteenth has gained renewed importance and promises to be a day of hope, a day of reflection and a day to appreciate the Black experience. It is cause for celebration, as well as an opportunity to take a closer look at just how far civil liberties for our Black communities have come and how much more we can do to bridge racial divides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing attention to the importance of the Juneteenth holiday is Chanda Causer, who organized two Elfster Secret Santa Gift Exchanges<\/a> last year to support Freedom Day for former slaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you may know, the Emancipation Proclamation was intended to free all slaves, but it didn\u2019t work out that way, as news traveled slow, and slave owners were resistant to comply. We now celebrate Juneteenth jubilee as a marker when the news arrived in Galveston, TX,\u201d explains Chanda, who currently lives in Prince Georges\u2019 County, Maryland with her husband and three girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as several other race-related injustices, tensions ever since have been high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was already becoming overwhelmed due to the quarantine and just really wanted to mail some love to friends, and also receive some love,\u201d says Chanda. \u201cMy friends were experiencing depression and anxiety\u2026 and just uncertainty from the world.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses & Each Other<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[A friend] suggested that we host an Elfster Gift Exchange<\/a>, but make certain that people support the Black community by buying gifts from Black-owned businesses. I loved this idea so much, so we created the Juneteenth Gift Exchange for our friends,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her Juneteenth exchange, Chanda has created another community of givers as well, called \u201cFree-ish Since 1865.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ‘Juneteenth’ community is open for everyone, friends of friends,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe \u2018Free-ish Since 1865\u2019 is a group for only Black people to celebrate our history, continued struggles, and solidarity in this ever changing time — this is a private closed community for those who identify as Black.\u201d In both Gift Exchanges, she encourages participants to send their secret friend gifts from a Black-owned business<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to sending a gift, Chanda asked participants to include a personal reflection note — \u201cshare with a stranger (or maybe you matched with a friend) how this moment in time is forcing you to think, reflect. Share your words with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Time for Reflection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy hope is that each person sends a thoughtful gift from a Black-owned business, and has an opportunity to place their thoughts on paper with a personal note,\u201d she says. \u201cAlso, I want people to think more deeply about Juneteenth and its connection to this current uprising moment. While the exchange is this Friday, I am hearing how hard it is to support small businesses (small internet profile, or not on Amazon so shipping is higher); but regardless, people are committed. Additionally, folks are developing a list of locally Black-owned businesses that they never knew of — so that’s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Washington,<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few notable Black-owned businesses on Chanda\u2019s list:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n