Opal Lee remembers her first Juneteenth celebration in Marshall, Texas. Just a little girl at the time, she recalls the joy and excitement of the day — the music, the food, the ball games and the speeches. “It was just like Christmas,” Lee said in a 2023 interview with Local Profile.
But the holiday took on a new meaning when her family moved to Fort Worth. Backyard commemorations there felt subdued compared to the community-wide gatherings in Marshall. Even then, the contrast made an impression, one that would eventually fuel her lifelong mission to elevate Juneteenth to national recognition.
Why Juneteenth Matters
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to inform enslaved Black Americans of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
For Lee, the day represents much more than a date in history. It symbolizes delayed justice and the ongoing fight for equality.
A Walk for Freedom
In 2016, at the age of 89, Lee began a symbolic journey from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., walking 2.5 miles at a time to represent the 2.5-year delay between emancipation and the enforcement of freedom in Texas. Her goal: to urge lawmakers to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
With tenacity and grace, she collected over 1.5 million signatures and garnered support from celebrities and public figures. She also credited the foundational work of the late Dr. Ronald “Doc” Myers, who had laid the groundwork for Juneteenth observances in 42 states before his death in 2018.
On June 18, 2021, Lee stood beside President Joe Biden and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, as Juneteenth was declared the eleventh national day of observance in the United States.
“It was magnificent — it was wonderful,” Lee told Local Profile. I have thought about it so many times, and I have pinched myself to be sure it actually happened.”
The Work Still Ahead
Even with the holiday now recognized nationwide, Lee remains focused on the work that remains. She often cites the “12 Freedoms Gained,” a concept that outlines the decades of progress and setbacks between 1865 and 1945. She continues to speak out against educational censorship and inequity, calling for honest storytelling and accountability.
“There are too many disparities — absolutely too many to say that we are free,” Lee told Local Profile. “Let people know what actually happened. Let them make decisions.”
Passing the Baton
Every year since Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, Lee has led a 2.5-mile Walk for Freedom through Fort Worth’s historic Southside. But this year, for the first time, she did not lead the march. She was hospitalized in May for undisclosed reasons and is currently recovering.
According to WFAA, her granddaughter led the walk in her place, continuing a legacy rooted in truth, hope and perseverance. And though Lee won’t physically be at the front, her spirit remains the guiding force behind the movement she helped bring to life.
From a little girl in Marshall to a national icon, Lee has shown what it means to fight for justice, step by step.
“We’re not talking about a Black thing or a Texas thing,” Lee said “We are talking about freedom for everybody. And we’re not free yet.”
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