What an awesome way to be free! Juneteenth, a National Holiday! There are only three opinions that matter in the court of law: (1) The Facts/Truth; (2) The Human Element; and (3) The LAW. The ladder superseding them all, but only because it is LAW. Any of the other two can make the law (letter) of none effect.

If ever there was a time for a country like the united states of America to pay attention to its history and make necessary concessions. When I was a little girl, I wondered who was writing our stories? I mean, some things off the cuff do NOT make much sense, nor cents, ha! But, within all that came a woman who would change history for Juneteenth, and she is the Chosen Visionary in the HOT-Seat …

Read HOT-Seat #32 Press Release about Ms. Opal Lee, A.K.A., The Grandmother of Juneteenth

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Yessir, I can say, ha! I mean it too. But why am I so cocky with this Hot-Seat Chosen Visionary posted article? Because discovering that there is no rush to live is refreshing. Sitting at the Master’s table at Urban Academics has enlightened my understanding of dreams, goals, and timing. Therefore, age has little to nothing to do with those (objectives, goals, and timing). After meeting this week’s Chosen Visionary, I am well able to continue in the path to each dream of dropping off and picking up whatever I am supposed to whenever God wills.

Three Books You Should Read

1. Enduring The Call: A 14-Day Encounter by Jocelyn Fagan, Author, Entrepreneur, and Licensed Minister
2. Empowerment Series: Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs, Updated (MindTap Course List
3. The ZOLA Experience: A Journey Of Recovery From Loss by Katurah A. Bryant, LMFT

This week’s Chosen Visionary in the HOT-Seat is an example of all things faith. From her earliest years, she has been able to triumph over obstacles that would have destroyed others, having no choice but to give up and quit. Nope; Not this one. She kept going as if driven by a higher power. The source of success, long life, is a direct result of her faith, proving that grace abounds in her life and those around her.

This Week In The HOT-Seat

Lady Opal Lee is from Fort Worth, TX, and she’s the 94-year-old who wants Juneteenth to be a National Holiday. Yes, Juneteenth originated in TX, but 47 states now have it as a state day of observance to commemorate the ending of slavery. More are making it a paid day off, including Virginia, New York, and Texas. Ms. Lee believes Juneteenth can be a unifier because it recognizes that slaves didn’t free themselves. They had help from Quakers along the Underground Railroad; abolitionists were black and white like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, soldiers, and many others who gave their lives for the enslaved’s freedom.

How Does She Do It?

I started a walking campaign in Washington, DC, in 2016 and have continued it to bring awareness that there is support for it all across this nation. There is legislation in the Senate S.4019 and in the House H.R.7232 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act – that needs to be passed into law.

Her vision is gaining traction with the National Football League, Nike, and Target now on board recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth given their employees the day off. Whether that’s all employees or only those who are African American or Black, I’m not sure, but whatever their policy is, it includes Juneteenth! Lady Opal certainly did a great job calling them out. Here’s a Video of Ms. Opal Lee getting at Nike – Watch The Video.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a name based on June 19, 1865, which is the day that enslaved Americans became free (at least that’s what was said). Union General Gordon Granger was excited that the Civil War was over and enslaved African Americans were free; He announced in Galveston, TX, because not everyone got the memo. It was two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Since June 19, 1866, it’s a day to celebrate our independence; Juneteenth is also considered Black Independence Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Days. Today, all but three states recognize Juneteenth; the three who don’t are Hawaii, North Dacota, and South Dakota. Texas, where Lady Opal Lee is from was first to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.

Ms. Opal Lee’s Petition to Make Juneteenth a National Holiday, at the time of this writing, was over 1.5 million signatures; Please add your name to the petition now!

Watch This – Puff Daddy & P.Diddy and Ms. Opal Lee …

“I put that on GOD – You’re gonna see this done – We don’t need incremental change. We gonna get many wins no crumbs and we don’t get them all we gonna give ’em hell.”

Sean “P.Diddy” Cobs

Notable Accomplishments of Lady Opal Lee

• Age: Opal Lee is 94-Years-Young at the time of this writing
• Author: Juneteenth, A Children’s Story
• Author: Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free; The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
• Author: Opal’s Walk: The Life and Works of Opal Lee
• Challenge For Juneteenth: City of Philadelphia Video
• Challenge for Juneteenth: Nike Video
• Challenge for Juneteenth: Twitter Video
• Established National Petition Making Juneteenth a National Holiday (Sign Ms. Opal Lee’s Petition) NOW
• Founding members of Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity (CCHD)
• Helped establish the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society
• Started a Walking Campaign to bring awareness to the Petition to Make Juneteenth A National Holiday
• She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in 1953 from Wiley College (now Wiley University)
• She obtained her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from North Texas State University
• She helped to get legislation in the Senate S.4019 and in the House H.R.7232 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
• Teach at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15 years – Regarded as one of the best 
• Volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, and serving as a member of the board (Land Acquisition Board)

Three Things You Need To Do

Teach A Child About Juneteenth

Learn More About Juneteenth NOW!

BUY A JUNETEENTH T-Shirt

What’s More?

served on the Historic & Cultural Landmarks Commission, AIDS Outreach committee, Evans Avenue Business Association, Good Samaritans, and Riverside Neighborhood Advisory Council. She has served as Precinct Chair for District 8 for over 30 years, a member of Grandmother’s Club, and Ethel Ransom Humanitarian & Cultural Club. She is an active member in her church, Baker Chapel AME (Ft Worth), where she serves as a Missionary, church school teacher, assistant teacher, and Deaconess.

Ms. Opal Lee, in her spare time (if any), enjoys family gatherings, going to the movies with Aunt Joanne and her daughter Renee. She especially likes reading lots of books; The proud great-grandmother, great-grandmother of eighteen (18), and too many great-great-great-grandchildren to count—a blessing and monument of a heart filled with pure gold. No soul is perfect, but we are coming pretty close here; Do you agree?

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