By Steven Monacelli
Shortly after Juneteenth was officially declared a national holiday last year, nearly 40 African American women’s organizations across Tarrant County banded together to hold an award ceremony honoring the efforts of Ms. Opal Lee, an educator and leading activist in the movement to nationally recognize Juneteenth — the celebration that marks the day when slaves in Texas finally learned they had been declared free two years earlier. Dozens of community leaders gathered on July 18 to honor Ms. Lee, including Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson and Congressman Marc Veasey. The outpouring of monetary support for the event was so overwhelming that several thousand dollars were able to be set aside for a scholarship fund in Ms. Lee’s name.
