06/19/2026
"If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love." — Dr. Opal Lee
Dr. Opal Lee calls herself the Grandmother of Juneteenth. We call her an inspiration.
Dr. Opal Lee spent decades fighting to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Starting at age 89, she walked 2.5 miles every year to symbolize the 2.5 years it took for enslaved people in Texas to learn they were free. In 2021, at 94, she presided over the ceremony where Juneteenth was signed into federal law.
Dr. Lee is also a reminder that building a more equitable world takes showing up — year after year, mile after mile. Let’s remember to show up for one another ❤️
