AYEDNICOLE.COM | HBCU & BLACK EXCELLENCE
By AyeDNicole | October 7, 2026
A Century of Courage, Education, and the Pursuit of Freedom
As we celebrate Black excellence, American history, and the extraordinary contributions of African American women, we honor a woman whose legacy represents perseverance, education, community leadership, and the ongoing pursuit of equality: Ms. Opal Lee, affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth.
Born on October 7, 1926, in Marshall, Texas, Ms. Lee celebrates her 100th birthday today, marking an extraordinary century of life, advocacy, and service to humanity.
Her journey reminds us that Black history is not simply something we study in classrooms. It is something we continue to create through leadership, education, sacrifice, and the courage to demand progress.
For Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), her story represents the importance of preserving African American history while preparing future generations to become leaders who recognize the value of their voices.
From HBCU Graduate to National Civil Rights Icon
Before becoming a nationally recognized activist, Ms. Opal Lee was a student who understood the importance of education.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Wiley University, a historically Black institution in Marshall, Texas. She later earned a master’s degree in counseling and guidance from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas.
For 24 years, she served as a teacher and counselor in the Fort Worth Independent School District, investing in the academic and personal development of young people.
National Museum of African American History
Her educational background deserves particular recognition throughout the HBCU community.
Ms. Lee represents generations of Black educators whose dedication extended far beyond obtaining degrees. Their education became a foundation for public service, social progress, and community empowerment.
For students attending institutions such as Florida A&M University, Howard University, Wiley University, and other HBCUs, her journey demonstrates that an HBCU education can become the beginning of a legacy that changes American history.
The Grandmother of Juneteenth: Turning Pain Into Purpose
In 1939, when Ms. Lee was just 12 years old, a white mob attacked her family’s home in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 19, the very date commemorated as Juneteenth.
Rather than allowing the injustice she experienced to define the limits of her future, Ms. Lee spent decades advocating for historical awareness, racial equality, and community advancement.
At 89 years old, she began a walking campaign in 2016 to advocate for federal recognition of Juneteenth. Her symbolic 2.5-mile walks represented the approximately two and a half years between the Emancipation Proclamation and the announcement of emancipation in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
Her efforts contributed to a historic achievement when President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. Ms. Lee stood alongside him for the occasion.
Her story demonstrates that meaningful social progress often requires decades of determination.
A Historic 100th Birthday and the National Juneteenth Museum
On October 7, 2026, Ms. Lee’s centennial celebration included a milestone for the future National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth.
The planned 50,000-square-foot museum will preserve the history of Juneteenth and expand opportunities for historical education. Its development represents another chapter in Ms. Lee’s lifelong commitment to protecting African American heritage.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was also scheduled to participate in an evening celebration honoring Ms. Lee’s remarkable life.
For HBCU students, educators, historians, and alumni, the museum represents an opportunity to connect historical scholarship with public education.
A Message to HBCU Students: Your Education Should Extend Beyond Graduation
As a proud advocate for HBCU excellence, I believe Ms. Opal Lee’s journey offers an important reminder to students pursuing degrees, careers, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
Education should never be limited to personal advancement. It should also prepare us to recognize injustice, preserve history, mentor younger generations, and contribute to the communities that helped shape us.
Ms. Lee’s life demonstrates that leadership does not have an expiration date.
At an age when many individuals have long retired from professional responsibilities, she continued advocating for a cause that would eventually become nationally recognized.
Her example challenges young Black scholars to consider a meaningful question:
What will you do with your education that makes life better for someone who comes after you?
That is the type of legacy HBCUs should continue encouraging.
Closing Reflections From AyeDNicole: Give Our Elders Their Flowers
Today, we celebrate more than a birthday.
We celebrate a Black woman, an HBCU graduate, an educator, a counselor, and a civil rights advocate whose life reminds us that perseverance and faith in a greater purpose can influence generations.
To Ms. Opal Lee, thank you for reminding America that Black history is American history.
Thank you for representing the strength of Black women who refused to allow discrimination, exclusion, and injustice to silence their contributions.
And thank you for showing HBCU students that the impact of their education can extend well beyond the classroom.
May your centennial birthday be filled with love, appreciation, and the recognition you have earned throughout your extraordinary lifetime.
From one HBCU graduate to another, happy 100th birthday, Ms. Opal Lee. Your life is a living lesson in leadership, love, education, and perseverance.
With love, AyeDNicole
Florida A&M University Alumna | HBCU & Black Excellence
Editorial note: This article combines verified biographical and historical reporting with the author’s personal reflections. Reporting sources include the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Associated Press, and D Magazine.
National Museum of African American History
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