June 19th 2024.
At the age of 97, Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," was finally able to return to her childhood home in Fort Worth, Texas. The significance of this event was not lost on anyone, as her new home was built on the very same lot where her family was forced out by a racist mob when she was just 12 years old, on June 19, 1939. And with the Juneteenth holiday just around the corner, the timing could not have been more perfect.
According to the Associated Press, Lee was absolutely ecstatic about her new home, saying, "I'm so happy I don't know what to do. Everybody will know that this is going to be a happy place." And indeed, it was a historic moment for the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," as she was welcomed back to her old neighborhood with open arms.
The joy and excitement of this homecoming were captured in a tweet by Kendria LaFleur, who shared a photo of Lee with the keys to her new home. CBS Saturday Morning also covered the event, highlighting the fact that it had been 85 years since Lee and her family were driven out of their home.
As Alanna Quillen reported, this homecoming was a long time in the making for the civil rights icon. Lee herself summed up her feelings with one word: "scrumptious." She continued, "I am so happy. I just wish everybody could be as happy as I am now."
The new home was made possible by the support and donations of various Dallas/Fort Worth area groups. Lee is eager to have an open house so she can greet her new neighbors and make new memories in her old neighborhood. While she doesn't remember much about the attack that drove her family away, she does recall the fear and trauma it caused her and her loved ones.
In an interview with NBC 5, Lee shared her memories of that day, saying, "Would you believe that the newspaper said there were about 500 people gathered across the street over there? And do you know the policemen were all there and when my dad came home from work with a gun the police told him if he busted a cap, they would let the mob have us."
Thankfully, Lee's parents were able to find a new home for their family a few blocks away. But the memories of that traumatic event stayed with Lee for 85 years. So when Habitat for Humanity offered to build a house for her on the same lot where her family had once lived, she was overjoyed.
Lee was actively involved in the entire process, from choosing the flooring, fixtures, and lighting for her home to receiving a grant from TexasCapital to furnish it. JCPenney, which has been a longtime supporter of Lee, also provided her with basic kitchen appliances, dinnerware, home decor, and linens for her bedroom and bathroom.
At the ceremony, Lee was surrounded by community leaders, activists, and supporters who welcomed her back to her old neighborhood. And as she told NBC 5, her hope is that the world can become a more peaceful place, free from strife and division. She looks forward to spending her golden years in her new home, filled with happiness and surrounded by love.
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