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In honor of Juneteenth, WTS Philadelphia is delighted to spotlight Opal Lee. Ms. Lee is a retired teacher, counselor, and civil rights activist who played a pivotal role in organizing local Juneteenth celebrations and advocating for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday. Her dedication earned her the title: The Grandmother of Juneteenth.

In relation to WTS Philadelphia, Ms. Lee’s activism often involved various forms of transportation. In the 1980s, she organized annual bus tours through economically depressed areas of Fort Worth, highlighting important landmarks and community needs. Further, to advocate for Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Ms. Lee led annual 2.5-mile walks to symbolize the 2.5 years it took for the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas. Remarkably, between September 2016 and January 2017, at the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. to further her cause.

Thanks to Ms. Lee’s perseverance, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in June 2021.