Dr. Opal Lee, ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ Honored With Presidential Medal of Freedom
The activist, social worker, and educator made national headlines for her decades-long advocacy to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. On Friday, May 3, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Opal Lee, also known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, for her efforts in establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday. Dr. Lee was […]
8 Decades After Opal Lee Was Forced From Family Home, She Breaks New Ground on Same Block
Her story is one of resilience and perseverance! 97-year-old community activist Opal Lee is on the verge of realizing her lifelong dream of returning to her family’s Texas home. As reported by NPR, Lee, whose family was driven out of their Fort Worth home by a racist mob when she was just 12 years old, […]
84 Years After Being Forced Out, Opal Lee’s Family Land is Returned
A house is being built for Lee and is expected to be completed sometime in 2024. More than 80 years ago, Opal Lee—affectionately called the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” by many—lost her family home to a racist mob. Now, Lee has regained ownership of the land where the house once stood. Trinity Habitat for Humanity, the […]