Opal Lee

Educator, Counselor & Activist; Known as the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth'

Travels From Travels From:
Dallas, TX, USA
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Opal Lee Biography

Known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” Ms. Opal Lee was present on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act bill that established June 19 or “Juneteenth” a federal holiday. Ms. Lee said on that day, “Now we can celebrate freedom from the 19th of June to the 4th of July!”

Ms. Lee was born in Marshal, Texas in 1926 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1937. At the age of 12, her family’s home was destroyed on June 19, 1939, but she nor her family allowed that to deter them from making an impact in the community. She has served on many boards and with many organizations including Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity (CCHD), Habitat for Humanity, and the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Fort Worth Black populace. During her tenure as Chairman of the Community Food Bank, the organization received the 1.3-million-dollar 33,000 sq. ft. facility that now serves 500 families a day.

Ms. Lee is the oldest living board member of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF) a national movement started by the late Dr. Ronald Myers to have Juneteenth declared a National Holiday. At 90 years of age, she started her walking campaign from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, DC to bring awareness to the need for celebrating Juneteenth nationally. She walked 2.5 miles in cities across the country to represent the 2.5 years it took after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation for enforcement to reach Texas to free the enslaved. In 2019, she launched an online petition campaign that garnered over 1.6 million signatures to continue the crusade for holiday observance.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/05/2024.

Opal Lee Videos

  • Ms. Opal Lee on Juneteenth
    Ms. Opal Lee has walked for miles — literally and figuratively — to bring attention to Juneteenth. On Thursday, Ms. Lee visited the White House...
  • Stories of Juneteenth: A Conversation with Ms. Opal Lee
    In 2016, at the age of 89, former teacher and lifelong activist Opal Lee walked 1,400 miles from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.,...
  • Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, Shares the Importance of the Holiday
    Opal Lee, known in Fort Worth as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth", is a 94-year-old trailblazer on a mission to generate greater recognition for...

Opal Lee Books

  • Juneteenth: A Children's Story
    Juneteenth: A Children's Story

Speaker Lists Featuring Opal Lee

FAQs on booking Opal Lee

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  • What topics does Opal Lee speak about?

    Opal Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Authors, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Civil Rights, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Non-Profit, Social Activism, Social Justice.
  • Where does Opal Lee travel from?

    Opal Lee generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Opal Lee is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Opal Lee for your event is available upon request. Opal Lee generally travels from Dallas, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ijeoma Oluo, Bakari Sellers, Nikki Giovanni, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and Dr. Bernice King. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Opal Lee for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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