Opal Lee
Opal Lee | |
|---|---|
Lee in 2021 | |
| Born | October 7, 1926 Marshall, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Wiley College (BA), North Texas State University (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | Activist Counselor |
| Known for | "Grandmother of Juneteenth" |
Opal Lee (born October 7, 1926) is an American retired teacher, counselor, and activist in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday. She is often described as the "grandmother of Juneteenth".
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Senate Bill S. 475, making Juneteenth the eleventh federal holiday. In 2024, Biden awarded Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor.