Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a day celebrating freedom and the perseverance of African Americans, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Juneteenth’s journey to federal recognition gained significant momentum after decades of advocacy, particularly from activists like Opal Lee. Following widespread social justice movements in 2020, bipartisan legislation passed Congress, leading President Joe Biden to sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, making it a federal holiday.
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Opal Lee is widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” for her tireless and decades-long activism in advocating for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday. Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1926, she experienced firsthand the significance of Juneteenth celebrations and the injustice of racism. In 1939, when she was 12, her family’s home in Fort Worth was burned down by a white mob on Juneteenth, an event that profoundly impacted her.
Despite this trauma, Lee dedicated her life to community service as a retired schoolteacher and counselor, working with various organizations and even starting Opal’s Farm to combat food insecurity. However, her most prominent work began in 2016, when at 89 years old, she embarked on a symbolic 1,400-mile “Walk for Freedom” from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. She walked 2.5 miles in each city she visited, representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach enslaved people in Texas after it was signed. Her efforts, which included gathering millions of petition signatures, brought national attention to the importance of Juneteenth.
Her perseverance paid off when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Opal Lee was present at the signing ceremony and is recognized for her instrumental role in achieving this historic milestone. She continues to be a prominent voice for civil rights and unity.
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