96-year old Opal Lee is known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” She made headlines back in 2016 after she walked from her home of Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. with a petition signed by 1.5 million Americans to get legislators to designate Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Ms. Opal is a retired teacher, counselor and activist who campaigned for over 40 years to honor the historic day and was there right next to President Biden when he signed the bill on July 17, 2021. She received a standing ovation that day, received the first of many pens Biden used to sign the document and he got down on one knee to greet her.
She was at the White House Juneteenth celebration concert this week with Vice President Kamala Harris, who invited her to speak and she said, “Make yourself a committee of one to change somebody’s mind… if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.”
& Remember to always celebrate your magic! xo