Photo courtesy of Dallas Morning News
Opal Lee, 95, was named the “grandmother of Juneteenth” after she advocated for national recognition of June 19, 1865. And now, 33 members of Congress have signed a letter nominating the Fort Worth native for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Congressman Marc Veasey of Texas’ 33rd District initiated the nomination letter while other Congress members praised Lee for her continuous efforts and dedication to equality, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
“I have been proud to call Ms. Lee a friend and mentor for nearly my whole life and was honored to work alongside her to finally get Juneteenth made into a national holiday last year,” said Veasey. “I cannot think of a better person who has constantly fought for justice, and that is why I am nominating her to receive this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.”
The now-federal holiday was originated in Galveston, Texas, in 1866, when enslaved people learned of their freedom two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Lee was only 12 years old when she recognized that day in 1939.
Juneteenth became a personal fight for Lee after a mob of white supremacists attacked her home in a predominantly white neighborhood.
“The celebration of Juneteenth became for her not just a day to celebrate the freeing of enslaved people in Texas but the recognition of the need to uphold the freedoms that African Americans gained and a call to fight … for equality for all humans,” the nomination letter said.
President Joe Biden invited Lee to the White House on June 17, 2021, after signing a bill declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday.
“We can’t rest until the promise of equality is fulfilled for every one of us in every corner of this nation. That to me is the meaning of Juneteenth,” Biden said. “So let’s make this very Juneteenth tomorrow the first that our nation will celebrate all together, as one nation. A Juneteenth of action on many fronts.”
Lee was overjoyed after witnessing the day she fought so hard to be recognized was finally a federal holiday.
“I’ve got so many different feelings all gurgling up here — I don’t know what to call them all,” she told CNN affiliate KTVT in Fort Worth, Texas.
“We’ve got all of these disparities that we’ve got to address, and I mean all of them. While we’ve got some momentum, I hope we can get some of it done. We can have one America if we try,” she continued.
The letter acknowledged the 95-year-old’s involvement in other organizations such as the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society, highlighting Fort Worth’s Black history. In addition, she was the founder of Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity, which helps those struggling financially in the Fort Worth community.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the Nobel Peace Prize laureates or winners, including any living person or organization.
Jan. 31 was the nomination deadline for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, and the laureates will be announced in October.