Trailblazing Civil Rights Leader Honored
Opal Lee, the trailblazing civil rights leader renowned as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will be honored by Southern Methodist University (SMU) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during its May 11th commencement ceremony.
SMU President R. Gerald Turner expressed the significance of this honor, stating, “Having Ms. Lee join us at commencement and share her work through a symposium is a signal of honor for our university.”
Lee’s remarkable achievements will be recognized at a free symposium on May 9, where she will attend with her granddaughter, Dione Sims, the founding executive director of the National Juneteenth Museum.
Lee’s Unwavering Dedication and Accomplishments
Opal Lee has dedicated her activism to the memory of the formerly enslaved people of Texas. Her vision to commemorate Juneteenth in the state and establish it as a federally recognized holiday was achieved on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Lee’s unwavering dedication has garnered numerous accolades, including seven honorary doctorates. Remarkably, in 2023, she became only the second African American to be honored with a portrait in the Texas State Senate chamber.
National Juneteenth Museum: A Momentous Milestone
A momentous milestone in Lee’s journey will be realized in 2025 with the opening of the $70 million, 50,000-square-foot National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth’s South Side, where Lee has operated her own modest museum.
Beyond serving as a museum and cultural center, the complex will include a business incubator and a mixed-income residential community. Lee, the honorary chair, and Sims, a legacy board member, have been instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition.
Accolades and Recognition
Lee’s unwavering dedication has garnered numerous accolades. She was named 2021 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Fort Worth Inc.’s 2022 Person of the Year, and nominated for a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize.
Her remarkable achievements have been recognized with seven honorary doctorates, and the upcoming honorary degree from SMU is a testament to her impact.
Tune in for the Live Stream
Join the live stream to witness the presentation of Lee’s honorary degree and celebrate the legacy of this trailblazing civil rights leader.
The commencement ceremony, where Lee will receive her honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, in Moody Coliseum, 3009 Binkley Ave.
