Dear UCSF Community,

This Sunday, June 19, we will celebrate the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, specifically the day on which enslaved people in Texas were freed, more than two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. This Juneteenth also marks the second year the day is observed as a federal holiday (observed June 20, 2022). As I reflect on this important day, I'm reminded of our shared and connected history, our present-day challenges to equity, and our hopes and plans for the future.

Over a month ago, we witnessed one of the deadliest racist massacres in recent U.S. history in Buffalo, New York. And just over two years ago, we faced a national reckoning with anti-Black racism after the murder of Mr. George Floyd. To understand the context of these events, we must acknowledge the larger history of anti-Black racism in our country and how it relates to today: from chattel slavery to Jim Crow segregation and systemic racism, anti-Black racism continues to impact our lives and the lives of our patients and community. Thus, in celebrating and commemorating Juneteenth, we also have the opportunity to understand a more comprehensive and honest rendering of our nation's history—and legacy.

I encourage the UCSF community to reflect on the full and enduring significance of June 19 as a day of truth and joy. In doing so, I encourage all of us to commit to dismantling anti-Black racism at UCSF because there is still much work to do to make our institution a truly inclusive and equitable place for all.

Please join one of the many Juneteenth events listed on the Multicultural Resource Center website.

Sincerely,

J. Renée Navarro, PharmD, MD
Vice Chancellor
Chief Diversity and Outreach Officer
Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care
She/Her/Hers