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Opal Lee: The 94-Year-Old Who Marched Juneteenth Into Law
8 Oct
Summary
- Opal Lee, 94, championed Juneteenth's path to federal holiday status.
- Her 1,400-mile walk symbolized freedom's delayed arrival in Texas.
- Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
94-year-old retired teacher Opal Lee was instrumental in making Juneteenth a federal holiday. She began a 1,400-mile walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., in 2016, at the age of 89, advocating for national recognition of Juneteenth. This date commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed of their freedom, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Lee's campaign gained significant momentum, drawing national attention and support. Her walk, with each 2.5-mile segment representing the delay in emancipation for Texans, became a powerful symbol. The Smithsonian acknowledges her crucial role in the movement.
Lee's personal history, including a childhood incident where her family's home was attacked by a white mob on Juneteenth, fueled her activism. The federal holiday was established when President Joe Biden signed the legislation on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since 1983. Lee continues to participate in Juneteenth events.
