By Aneesa Grant, The Seattle Medium
Opal Lee, a distinguished civil rights activist and educator, affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” played a pivotal role in advocating for the national recognition of Juneteenth. Her relentless dedication and unwavering spirit were instrumental in the passing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. At the remarkable age of 89, Lee embarked on a symbolic two-and-a-half-mile walk, capturing national attention and galvanizing support for the historic holiday. Her tireless activism not only brought awareness to Juneteenth but also reinforced the ongoing struggle for racial equality, cementing her status as an iconic figure in the modern Juneteenth movement.
Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day, is commemorated annually on June 19th. The date marks the momentous occasion in 1865 when African American slaves in Galveston, Texas, were among the last to learn of their freedom—a staggering two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in the Confederacy and two months after the conclusion of the Civil War.
To this day, Opal Lee undertakes a symbolic two-and-a-half-mile walk each year on June 19th, symbolizing the time that elapsed between the Emancipation Proclamation and the arrival of the news of freedom in Galveston.
In 2016, at the age of 89, Lee, a retired teacher and lifelong activist, embarked on a transformative journey from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to the nation’s capital, with the noble objective of securing national recognition for Juneteenth. Her incredible feat of resilience saw her walk the 1,360-mile distance, rallying support and gathering 1.6 million signatures along the way. In January 2017, Lee arrived in Washington, D.C., presenting the signatures and petitions to advocate for Juneteenth’s designation as a national holiday. Her courageous Juneteenth walk reignited national interest in the historical day and propelled the momentum towards federal recognition. This incredible achievement came to fruition on June 17, 2021, as Opal Lee stood alongside President Joe Biden at The White House while he signed the bill into law.
Born Opal Flake on October 7, 1926, in Marshall, Texas, Lee’s deep-rooted involvement in preserving African American history began in the 1970s. Her efforts ultimately led to the establishment of the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, which was founded in April 1977 by 21 charter members, including Lee herself. Since its inception, the society has organized annual Juneteenth celebrations, attracting thousands of participants to Sycamore Park to commemorate the official end of slavery in Texas.
Opal Lee’s decades-long campaign to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday reverberated far beyond Texas. Her resolute advocacy extended to Fort Smith and Little Rock, Arkansas; Las Vegas, Nevada; Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; Selma, Alabama; and the Carolinas, where she actively participated in marches and promoted a petition for a Juneteenth federal holiday on Change.org, garnering an astounding 1.6 million signatures.
Lee’s impassioned fight for racial equality and national recognition of Juneteenth stems from a deeply personal experience. In 1939, when she was just twelve years old, her family’s newly purchased home in the predominantly white area of the 900 block of East Annie Street was vandalized and burned down by a mob of 500 white rioters. The incident occurred on June 19th, forever linking the significance of that date to Lee’s determination to ensure Juneteenth is celebrated and understood far and wide.
