Opal Lee, the 97-year-old civil rights icon known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” is making an impassioned plea for young people to vote.
In an interview with NewsOne at the Democratic National Convention, the retired teacher and celebrated activist stressed the importance of voting, drawing from her own experiences.
Lee, who faced the harsh realities of voter suppression, recounted a pivotal moment in her life when she was forced to choose between feeding her children and paying a poll tax to vote. “I didn’t have the $1.75 needed to pay the poll tax,” Lee shared. “But I wanted to vote so badly, so I prayed about it. I voted and paid the poll tax, but my children didn’t go hungry. You know, God’s in the plan.”
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Highlighting the power of the vote, Lee urged young people to take action. “Listen, we don’t have but this one voice that we can depend on, and it’s voting. If we all vote together for what we know is right, hey, the Lord upstairs hears our prayers.”
Lee’s legacy extends far beyond her early days as a school teacher. In the late 1970s, she emerged as a formidable advocate for social justice in Fort Worth, Texas. She played a crucial role in establishing the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society and organizing Fort Worth’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
In 1994, Lee founded Unity Unlimited Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering unity and harmony within communities. Her tireless work culminated in the national recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
In 2016, at the age of 89, Lee embarked on “Opal’s Walk 2 D.C.,” a 1,400-mile journey from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for Juneteenth. Her Change.org petition garnered 1.6 million signatures, ultimately leading to the passage of the Juneteenth federal holiday bill in June 2021.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including being forced from her home by a violent mob at the age of 12, Opal Lee’s resilience and determination have made her a pivotal figure in the fight for civil rights.
Watch her powerful message on why young people should vote below.
