On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger entered the square in Galveston, TX, to announce the emancipation of the enslaved — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. General Granger’s decree on Juneteenth, a blending of June and 19th, is often considered the end of American slavery.

Opal Lee, a social organizer in Fort Worth, TX, began her petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday in 2016. Five years later, Congress and the Senate voted. Her dream came true.

Alice Faye Duncan learned all this and more when she got the opportunity to write a picture book biography about Lee, who is known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth. Here, Faye talks about Lee’s sunshine and love, what Juneteenth means to her, and helping children become critical thinkers. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What inspired you to write about Opal Lee?
I was exposed to Opal Lee’s activism during the summer of George Floyd’s death in 2020. At that same time, famous people like Carmelo Anthony, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Will Packer were using their influence to promote Opal Lee’s campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. As fires blazed through the American streets, Miss Opal’s voice rose above the rage. She pleaded with the U.S. Congress and Senate to support the Juneteenth holiday as an emblem of unity and a guidepost pointing toward justice and liberation that is still yet to be.

I knew very little about Juneteenth and the American Civil War, so to write about Opal Lee and the history of Juneteenth was a growth opportunity.

Discuss the collaboration process with Opal Lee as you wrote the book. How did you decide which parts of her story to highlight?
Before speaking with the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” I interviewed Dione Sims, her granddaughter. Sims gave me important details about Opal’s campaign that had, at that point, collected 1.5 million signatures in support of a Juneteenth holiday.

As I spoke with Grandmother Opal, I learned that she had served as a Fort Worth school teacher for 30 years. During her retirement, she found a second career as a civic leader and volunteer who helps the unhoused find shelter. She also manages an urban farm to feed hungry families.

It was uncanny to me that after surviving a childhood filled with racial terror in the segregated South, Opal’s personality and words spill over with sunshine and love. It was from the brightness of this first interview that a vision for my book was formed. I would write Opal’s conquering biography and share the history of Juneteenth in a spirit of reflection and exhilarating joy. And since Juneteenth is filled with food and fellowship, I also wanted my book to include a recipe for red Juneteenth punch.

The book contains a healthy list of sources in the back. Can you talk about your research process? Did you learn anything that surprised you?
My research to write this story started with me speaking to the family and friends who walked across America with Opal Lee on her journey to collect signatures. I learned about her early life in Fort Worth through old newspaper clippings. And to write about the emotional heft of American slavery without the gruesome imagery, I consulted a variety of reference books written especially for children.

During this writing opportunity, I was surprised to discover that after the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, Black men from the Southern states joined the Union. The strength of their added numbers helped the Union win the war and abolish American slavery. This new understanding was a boon of inspiration to me. Black Americans contributed in a great way to their own liberation. Imagine what would be gained if all American children understood this moment in time? It is an inextricable matter to me. There can be no division. Black History is American History every day of the year.

What does Juneteenth and the story of Juneteenth mean to you? Why do you think it was important for Juneteenth to become a nationally recognized holiday?
Juneteenth for me is a time of reflection and celebration. As a Black American who is the legacy of the enslaved, I turn back to remember what has been survived, and I celebrate the achievements of the past and present.

When children in any nation read the Juneteenth story, they learn what is possible when people denounce injustice and sacrifice their lives to do what is right.

You’ve mentioned that you hope your books help children become critical thinkers. Why?
No one is forever young. Blink and suddenly that bouncing baby is somebody’s daddy, mama, teacher—an American voter. Therefore, I am intentional with the words that I write. My books give children an understanding of history that I hope will inspire them to make life choices that are bold, wise, and fair. When they are parents demanding higher wages, I want them to remember my story about Dr. King and emulate his courage. When they find their voting rights under attack, I want them to remember my story about John McFerren and emulate his protest. When they decide that social maladies like racism and poverty deserve a direct solution, I want them to remember Miss Opal Lee and follow that path she boldly walked.