Opal Lee

Opal Lee (born October 7, 1926) is an American retired teacher, counselor, and activist. She worked to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States. She has been called the "grandmother of Juneteenth".^[1]

Lee with President Joe Biden at the White House, June 2021

Lee was born in Marshall, Texas. She studied at the University of North Texas.

Lee campaigned for many years to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.^[2] She began a lead to walk 2.5 miles (4.0 km) each year, representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C., leaving in September 2016 and arriving in Washington in January 2017.^[3][4] She was hoping to inspire President Barack Obama to make Juneteenth a holiday.^[5]

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday.^[6] Lee was at the White House for the signing.^[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Lee began working at a food bank, farm and community garden^[8] during the pandemic to help communities affected by it.^[9]