Overview:
Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” visited Paul Quinn College to share her life journey and the importance of Black history. She spoke to students about the Juneteenth holiday and read her book, Juneteenth: A Children’s Story, before taking photos with staff and students. She also shared her inspiration for advocating for Juneteenth to become a national holiday and the current state of the American political scene. Despite the current administration’s attempts to censor Black history and Black voices, Opal Lee’s message remains a reminder that we have the power to change things by following through with it.
Opal Lee, also known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” stopped by Paul Quinn College to spend the day with students and talk about her life journey and the importance of students knowing their Black history. The 98-year-old spent her morning with students of Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III Global Preparty Academy and Kipp Oak Cliff Academy.
Ms. Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, spoke to the children about the importance of the Juneteenth holiday before reading to the students Ms. Lee’s book, Juneteenth: A Children’s Story. After her reading, she graciously shook hands and took photos with staff and students in awe of her presence.
The Dallas Weekly had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Lee and ask her a few questions pertaining to her journey to make Juneteenth a national holiday, as well as the current state of the American political scene.
I asked Ms. Lee what inspired her to advocate for Juneteenth to become a national holiday. She replied, “It just dawned on me that Juneteenth needed to be a holiday. I just felt like if I got to President Obama, then I could ask him, and maybe he could make it a holiday. So I started out, but by the time I got to Washington, he was gone.” Yet her jovial and determined spirit pressed on, and through the Biden-Harris Administration on June 17th, Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Act. The act formally recognizes Juneteenth as a national holiday.
I followed up with how she felt about her achievement and the fact that she received the Presidential Freedom of Honor from Biden in 2024, and she spoke about how grateful and honored she felt. Then she jokingly added,” I was so happy that I could do the holy dance, but the young people say I look like I’m twerking when I do the holy dance.”
Ms. Lee used to be a teacher, so it was only fitting that I follow up with why she deemed it important that young Black children continue to learn the history of their ancestors in spite of the recent attempts and doings of censorship in classrooms. Ms. Lee replied, “If they don’t learn our history, they are doomed to repeat it.” She added that she wants both parents and teachers to understand their history.
To end our conversation, she added that she wants people to remember her by knowing that she is everyone’s grandmother, no matter who they are or where they are from. Ms. Lee is proud to be the grandmother to all.
Opal Lee’s presence and day with students from college, high school, and middle school comes at a time when the current administration is doing everything possible to censor Black history and Black voices. Yet, we have activists like lifelong humanitarian Opal Lee to remind us that we have the power to change something simply by following through with it. We have the power to change things by doing something as simple as helping people cross the street.
Activism isn’t always about something big and extravagant, but it is instead going the extra mile in things as simple as helping a mother with her children or giving back to the community through volunteering and giving food and shelter to those in need.
At the end, Ms. Lee insisted to the audience, “We are our brother’s keepers, so act like it.”
I like to think of those words as marching orders. Message received, Grandma. And delivered.
Check out was real simple, can't wait for the tote bag