Opal Lee, known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, White House officials announced Friday.
Lee, 97, is an award given by the White House to “an individual who has made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, security, and world peace of the United States, or to other important social, public, or private endeavors.” He is one of 19 recipients of this prestigious award. ”
President Joe Biden will present the award at the White House.
“These 19 Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations, and businesses that shaped America for the better,” officials said in a news release. “They are the pinnacle of leadership in their field. Throughout their careers, they have consistently demonstrated the power of community, hard work, and service.”
Ms. Lee devoted years of her life to the fight to have Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday.
In 2016, at age 89, she marched from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., demanding this designation. The 1,400-mile march was a series of 2.5-mile marches that took two and a half years to reach the last remaining enslaved people in Galveston before news of their emancipation reached them.
Ms. Lee achieved her goal in 2021, earning her the title of “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”That year, she was also nominated Dallas Morning News'' Texan of the Year.
Lee continues to remain active. Every June 1st since then, she has led her 4.5-mile “Freedom Walk” through Fort Worth's historic Southside neighborhood. She is also working on the $70 million National Juneteenth Museum, currently scheduled to open in Fort Worth in 2026.
