Dear UCSF Community,

This Wednesday, June 19, we commemorate the momentous day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Texas and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free, two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. Finally, slavery in the United States was abolished.

The following year, a group of formerly enslaved Black Americans gathered to celebrate what is now known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day.

Over time, Juneteenth has grown to become a significant occasion for reflection, education—and joyous jubilation. In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden named Juneteenth a federal holiday. This recognition signifies the importance of Juneteenth in American history and represents a step toward acknowledging the struggles and achievements of Black Americans.

At UCSF and across the Bay Area, there are opportunities to join in community to celebrate Juneteenth. I invite you to visit the Multicultural Resource Center’s Juneteenth webpage, where you will find events, virtual backgrounds and film screening details, as well as information about celebrations throughout the Bay Area.

I hope you can join us as we celebrate freedom, honor the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before us, and acknowledge the need to continue fighting for equity and justice.

Sincerely,

Renée Navarro, MD, PharmD
Vice Chancellor
Chief Diversity and Outreach Officer
Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care