Understanding the significance of Juneteenth 19JUN26

MORE on the history and significance of Juneteenth. It is a sad statement on our country that so many actually oppose celebrating the emancipation of our fellow Americans, no doubt these are the same voluntarily ignorant who brought us the present administration and promote their hate, racism, prejudice, bigotry. How very sad for them and our nation. Just hold on to the fact that change is a'commin.....  WHO IS OPAL LEE? THE STORY BEHIND THE GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH

It’s Juneteenth, which is the official federal holiday commemorating the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas at the end of the Civil War. This is the fifth year the United States has recognized it as a federal holiday, and seeing how racial justice and economic justice are deeply intertwined, we felt it was important to give this day the proper attention it deserves. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Black Americans still face systemic discrimination in just about every facet of their lives—from the healthcare system, law enforcement, the courts, the education system, and more. There are a number of reasons why America’s “racial wealth gap” is so massive. Redlining, blockbusting, excluding Black veterans from the post-WWII GI Bill, and Black people being swindled into predatory subprime mortgages that ultimately created the 2008 financial crisis are all frequently cited as major contributors. This is what we mean when we say white supremacy and the lasting impacts of slavery still harm our society, economy, and democracy today. If you’re looking for resources to better understand how this is the case, here’s what we’d recommend reading: Our Closer Look from June 2025 about how the sub-minimum wage (also known as the tipped minimum wage) is a vestige from slavery. After the Civil War, business owners who still wanted to exploit formerly enslaved Black people brought the idea of tipping over from Europe to America, but with a financial twist to it: they decided that tips would replace wages entirely for Black workers. Our Closer Look from February 2026 about how early labor laws excluded Black Americans. The targeted exclusion of occupations that mainly employed Black people from minimum wage and Social Security provisions during the New Deal means that not only do Black families still hold less generational wealth, but there remains to this day a wage gap based on race, to say nothing of the wage gap when considering both race and gender. Our pals at ITEP wrote this insightful piece about how one of the most powerful drivers of that inequity is our tax system. As they eloquently put it: “Juneteenth is often described as a celebration of delayed justice. But it should also be a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. The inequities embedded in our tax system will not correct themselves. They require intentional action, guided by a clear understanding of who benefits and who bears the cost. If we are serious about honoring the legacy of Juneteenth, we must move beyond commemoration to transformation. That means building a tax system and an economy that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.” “Spread the power” is our core third principle here at Patriotic Millionaires. That means understanding how orchestrated attacks on voting rights are becoming commonplace across the country. In the past two decades, we’ve witnessed the Supreme Court of the United States wipe out a generation of work by civil rights activists. See this from the Brennan Center: The Supreme Court’s Failure to Protect Voting Rights. There is a tie between attacks on voting rights and it disproportionately harming Black Americans and other racial minorities, as well as young and elderly voters, people with lower incomes, and people with disabilities. Consider this: for most of our country’s history, “the right to vote was almost entirely restricted to white property-owning men. This version of an American democracy based on racial, gender, and economic privilege coexisted with and was reinforced by the institution of race-based chattel slavery.” When we eliminate barriers to financial and political freedom, we take a step forward in the fights for both economic justice and racial justice. The same can be said for just about every aspect of the economy, from the tax code to labor laws to antitrust laws and more. We hope you use this federal holiday as an opportunity to better understand how our movement toward a stronger economy and country is intrinsically connected with advancing racial justice. Thank you for all you do, The Patriotic Millionaires

Paid for by Patriotic Millionaires

WHO IS OPAL LEE? THE STORY BEHIND THE GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH 19JUN26

 

WHO IS OPAL LEE?

THE STORY BEHIND THE GRANDMOTHER OF JUNETEENTH

Key Points

• Opal Lee, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," was instrumental in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday in 2021.

• A lifelong educator in Fort Worth, Texas, she dedicated her career to shaping young minds and serving her community.

• A traumatic 1939 Juneteenth experience—when her family's home was burned—helped inspire her lifelong commitment to justice and advocacy.

• At age 89, Opal Lee made a symbolic walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., building on the annual 2.5-mile walks she began years earlier to advocate for federal recognition of Juneteenth. 

• Her legacy reflects the power of resilience, education, and grassroots activism to create lasting social change.

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  Opal Lee attends the 2021 Forbes x Know Your Value 50 Over 50 Summit on December 15, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)

• Who is Opal Lee?  

  Opal Lee, the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth,' is a woman of remarkable vision, unshakable determination and boundless compassion. The legacy created by her resilience echoes throughout the nation, reminding us all that one person's unwavering commitment to justice can change the course of history. Her journey stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action for generations to come.

  Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1926, Opal Lee credits her superb work ethic to her mother. Lee graduated from high school at the age of 16 and went on to further her education at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education. In 1960, she returned to the classroom to achieve her master's degree in counseling and guidance from North Texas University. 

  A Career Rooted in Education and Community  

  For 24 years, she worked with children in the Fort Worth Independent School District as a schoolteacher and a counselor. She poured into the lives of children in the area and saw firsthand the many different walks of life and struggles her community went through. It was here that Lee truly understood what it meant to love your neighbor. 

  "As a lifelong educator, I know that what we teach today shapes tomorrow," Lee said. "So if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love." 

   As a lifelong educator, I know that what we teach today shapes tomorrow. So if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love. Opal Lee, retired educator and activist known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth

  A Defining Moment: The 1939 Juneteenth Tragedy 

  Like many, Lee's celebrations of Juneteenth as a child were private celebrations with family and friends enjoying each other's company, good food and the remembrance of a pivotal moment in our nation's history.

  That was until June 19, 1939, when the beloved holiday had to share a day of terror with the Lee family, when a mob burned their house down during their celebrations. That became a day she and her family would never forget; however, it wasn't a day that silenced her.

  
  
  Retired teacher and activist Opal Lee attends the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 3, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

• From Educator to Activist  

  After Lee's retirement in 1977, she shifted her focus to bettering her community. She helped advocate for those experiencing poverty and homelessness in the community, and she became a founding member of the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society and began her role of planning Juneteenth celebrations for her community. Thus began the chain of events that would lead to a very important moment in United States history. 

  "I don't consider myself a civil rights person. I consider myself your grandma and everybody else's grandma, and I expect you to listen when I tell you something," Lee said. 

   I don't consider myself a civil rights person. I consider myself your grandma and everybody else's grandma, and I expect you to listen when I tell you something. Opal Lee, retired educator and activist known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth

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  Activist and retired educator Opal Lee, 94, holds hands with Vice President Kamala Harris as U.S. President Joe Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in 2021. (Getty Images)

• The Movement to Make Juneteenth a National Holiday  

  In 2016, at the age of 89, Lee started her campaign to call for Juneteenth's recognition as a national holiday. She started her journey, walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Each day, she walked 2.5 miles to symbolize the two and a half years enslaved people in Texas waited to learn they had been freed after the Emancipation Proclamation.

  She was strong and resilient in her efforts, and along the way, she gathered a petition with 1.5 million signatures to present to Congress. After a lifetime of work and 154 years after the good news reached Galveston, Texas, Lee watched as President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth Independence Day Act on June 27, 2021. 

  Why Opal Lee’s Story Still Matters Today 

  Lee shows us that change is possible at any age, and that the power of history lies not just in remembrance but in action. Her voice, her footsteps and her love for community forged a path toward national recognition and healing. In recognition of her impact, she has received several honorary doctorates, including from Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University and Wiley University. Her life reminds us that even the deepest pain can be transformed into purpose, and that the fight for freedom, dignity and truth must continue with every generation. 

Fighting for future generations of kids born in the U.S.A. 14TH Amendment, Birthright Citizenship 4APR26

 HERE'S an update from the ACLU on their argument to scotus in defense of the 14th Amendment, the Birthright Citizenship law, on 1APR26. A decision is expected in late June or early July.

"President Trump was sitting six feet away from me in the courtroom... and I dare say he got a good lesson in American constitutional law." – Anthony D. Romero, ACLU Executive Director

ACLU National Legal Director Cecillia Wang and ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero exit the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the ACLU went to the Supreme Court to defend babies born in the U.S.A. in our landmark case, Trump v. Barbara – challenging President Trump's attempt to overturn birthright citizenship. Outside the courtroom that day, our ACLU community showed up with us in force. Hundreds rallied at the Supreme Court steps in D.C. in person – while the names of over 315,000 people who signed our petition in support of birthright citizenship were proudly displayed in D.C. Lawyers, advocates, and impacted families spoke about the chaos and harm that this executive order would cause – and how critical it is that we all fight back. Together, we sent a message: the Constitution, not the president, decides who an American is. President Trump has targeted birthright citizenship from Day One – signing an executive order that threatens to create a permanent subclass of U.S.-born people with no legal status. Within two hours, the ACLU sued the Trump administration. Since then, we've won preliminary relief from the courts, blocking this illegal executive order from taking effect. The 14th Amendment is not up for debate, and we, the people, will not allow our constitutional rights to be stripped away. Hundreds rallied outside the Supreme Court with signs in support, saying 'Protect birthright citizenship' and 'The 14th amendment speaks for itself.' This Wednesday made one thing certain: If President Trump wants to come for our fundamental rights, then supporters will turn out in waves to protect our Constitution and its core promise of birthright citizenship. Always, the ACLU will show up when our rights are threatened. We're glad we can count on you to fight alongside us. Together, The ACLU Team

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