Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has celebrated civil rights activist and educator Opal Lee as she marked her 100th birthday.
Michelle Obama shared a heartfelt tribute celebrating Lee’s remarkable life and decades of advocacy for Black communities and the preservation of African-American history.
In her message, Obama praised Lee for her lifelong leadership and her significant role in the movement that helped establish Juneteenth as a national holiday in the United States.
She also described it as a privilege to celebrate the milestone with Lee, sharing her admiration for the centenarian’s contribution to American history.
Opal Lee, widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” has spent decades advocating for greater recognition of June 19, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Her efforts gained national attention and contributed to the campaign that culminated in Juneteenth becoming a U.S. federal holiday in 2021.
Michelle Obama’s tribute has since drawn attention to Lee’s extraordinary journey, celebrating not only her 100 years of life but also a legacy built around activism, education, history and community empowerment.