Opal Lee, known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” celebrated her 100th birthday by kicking off construction of a museum in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, dedicated to the history of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.
Lee spent years advocating for federal recognition of Juneteenth and stood alongside President Biden when he signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.