Observing Independence Day 2023
Dear Howard University Community,
This July 4 holiday arrives as we collectively process the repercussions from last week’s Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action, student loan debt, LGBTQ+ rights, and a host of other rulings that are primed to make an immediate, adverse impact on our country.
Despite these recent setbacks, I remain confident in this generation’s potential to create a society where all people are truly created equal. Furthermore, I am encouraged by our University’s enduring commitment to the advancement of civil and human rights, and how our students have historically accepted the responsibility of advancing this nation’s lofty ideals.
As members of this community, we are part of a rich legacy that encompasses the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in the pursuit of justice. As a collegiate institution in our nation’s capital, we are also uniquely positioned to hold our elected leaders accountable. Our involvement in this country’s democracy feels especially imperative at this moment in American history.
Today offers an opportunity for reflection. We must acknowledge the complex history of our nation, one marked by both great achievements and painful injustices. Although the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extended citizenship rights and equal protection under the law to all American citizens, communities of color remain disproportionately disenfranchised. The promises made inside the Fourteenth Amendment have yet to be fully realized by all Americans, and as we consider the ambitious goals of independence and citizenship, we must also recognize the work we have yet to complete.
Even as we celebrate America’s freedom, we must examine the contradictions between the principles we hold dear, and the realities still experienced by far too many. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said 58 years ago today, “If America is to remain a first-class nation, she can no longer have second-class citizens.”
We commemorate this day in celebration of America’s independence, even as we encounter yet another obstacle in our pursuit of liberty and justice for all. While the Supreme Court’s rulings were undoubtedly disheartening, they were equally a reminder that progress is often nonlinear, that we are in constant struggles between the type of country we are and the one we strive to still become. We must remain vigilant about amplifying our collective humanity, or else we risk a future that is doomed to repeat our past mistakes.
In observance of Independence Day, the University will be closed today, Tuesday, July 4, and will reopen Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
I wish you all a safe, enjoyable, and reflective holiday. May it serve as a reminder of the incredible legacy we inherit and the responsibility we carry. Together, we must continue to strive for excellence, to champion justice, and to make a positive impact on our society. Let us engage in thoughtful dialogue, foster understanding, and confront the challenges that lie ahead. By embracing our collective history and working together, we can build a country – and a world – that is more equitable, moral, and compassionate.
Excellence in Truth and Service,
Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA
Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery
President