Dear UCSF Community,

In 1619 the first enslaved people of African descent arrived on the shores of what is now Hampton, Virginia. While the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect January 1, 1863, the orders did not reach all parts of the confederate south until nearly two-and-a-half years later, on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This year, Juneteenth brings great significance as our world continues to confront both overt and systemic anti-Black racism. 

“Of all Emancipation Day observances, Juneteenth falls closest to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun, at its zenith, defies the darkness in every state, including those once shadowed by slavery.”
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

In observance of this important day and to further our campus commitment in affirming that Black Lives Matter, the Office of Diversity and Outreach is hosting a special event featuring keynote speaker Dante King, who will explore the history of anti-Black racism in the United States from the colonial period to the present. We encourage all members of the UCSF community to attend this event and stay engaged throughout this important moment in time. Our office is working to curate events to facilitate healing and learning, and we encourage people to stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter.

Furthermore, we are working with all to center the voices of our Black community members to develop our plans for transformational change that dismantles anti-Black racism at UCSF.

Anti-Blackness and Its Link to White Racism, Privilege and Power presented by Dante King...