Reflecting on Juneteenth, Pride, and Maternal Equity
This month, WANDA recognized Juneteenth and is continuing to celebrate Pride. Both serve as symbols of freedom, courage, and inclusivity – something that we are still fighting for today.
Opal Lee, also known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” serves as a symbol of resilience in her own right. On June 19, 1939, when she was just 12 years old, a mob of white rioters vandalized and burned down Opal’s family home in Fort Worth, Texas. “The fact that it happened on the 19th day of June has spurred me to make people understand that Juneteenth is not just a festival,” shared Opal, recalling the experience years later.
Just like some of our very own WANDA moms, Opal faced an uphill battle to financial freedom for herself and her children. After five years of marriage, Opal decided to leave her husband and return home to her own mother with her four children in tow. Opal’s mother was able to watch the children so she could attend Wiley College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. For the next 15 years, Opal taught at Amanda McCoy Elementary School and also worked nights at Convair to support her family. Despite the hardships, Opal persevered and went on to earn her master’s degree from North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) in Counseling and Guidance.
Over the course of her professional career, she served as a teacher, counselor, and advocate, helping students and families navigate systems that had rarely served them well. She remained a single mother for years before remarrying in 1967.
Following her retirement from education, Opal didn’t slow down; some might even say she became busier than ever. In addition to her unwavering advocacy for community causes in Fort Worth, campaigning for Ann Richards and Barack Obama, and starting a nonprofit organization, she continued to fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday. In June 2021, her efforts finally paid off when a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday was passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Joe Biden.
At WANDA, we don’t think of Juneteenth, Pride, and maternal equity as separate issues, but rather issues that are connected by the same call for freedom, courage, and inclusivity. Opal’s fighting spirit and bravery serve as a beacon of hope and determination to never give up on your dreams, which is something we all need during these uncertain times.