Opal Lee, a civil rights icon lovingly known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will join Madison educator, author, and historian Dr. Charles Taylor for “Freedom’s Journey,” an educational and inspirational conversation exploring the deeper meaning of Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 3, 1-3:30 p.m at the Monona Terrace Convention & Community Center.
Lee, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, played a pivotal role in the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
“Opal Lee is an incredible woman, and she is almost 100 years old … she’ll be 100 in October. I’m especially pleased that she would set aside some time to do this with me,” Taylor tells Madison365. “So I’m excited about the event. 
“Miss Opal Lee and I actually go back 30-40 years. She praised my first [Juneteenth] book when it first came out, and we’ve talked through the years. We both know a lot of people in the Juneteenth movement, but we had never done an event together. I told her this would be one of the highlights of my career if she were willing to do this, and she graciously agreed.”
The “Freedom’s Journey” event will be hosted by Roar Enterprises, Inc., an educational and publishing organization founded by Taylor. Through books, films, speaking engagements, and educational media, Roar Enterprises seeks to promote understanding of Black history, challenge historical myths, and inspire healing through truth and dialogue.
“People are going to leave this event knowing much more about Juneteenth, but they’re also going to leave knowing about Roar, which is my company’s involvement with Juneteenth, and they’ll understand how I got involved,” Taylor says. “I’m showing a 10-minute film that traces how I got involved, how my book was used to help make Juneteenth a national holiday. When I give my remarks, they’ll learn more about what Juneteenth really means, and why it’s so important for all of us to celebrate.”
The program will include a special taped interview with Lee and a moderated interview with Taylor and Lee, who will be participating virtually, along with an audience and Zoom Q&A. A reception and book signing will follow the event, where Dr. Taylor will be available to sign copies of his new book.
Dr. Taylor has spent more than three decades creating educational resources, books, documentaries, and presentations focused on Black history, racial understanding, and healing through truth. Taylor was active in the movement to make Juneteenth a national holiday and his first book, Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom, was presented to governors who made Juneteenth either a state holiday or observance. Taylor is also the author of Juneteenth: The Promise of Freedom. which was released just last year.
“Miss Opal Lee is building a National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and my book will be housed in her museum,” Taylor says. “So I’m excited to be part of that museum.”
Through her tireless advocacy and historic freedom walks, Lee helped lead the movement that resulted in President Joe Biden passing a bill on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth the 11th federal holiday that Americans celebrate today. In 2016, Lee’s 1,400-mile walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. helped to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
“During the question and answer period afterwards, she will be live, so that people can ask questions about her career, about her walking, all of that,” Taylor says.
At the event, Taylor will give a presentation on the meaning of Juneteenth. “I will talk about the significance …what’s it all about, and try to tie it together between what’s happening in the past and what’s happening now,” he says. “Amani [Latimer Burris] will be doing a special tribute to Miss Opal and her own mother, Milele, so she’ll be given about a three to five minute tribute to both of those women.”
Latimer Burris, the daughter of the late Milele Chikasa Anana, the former Madison community leader and publisher of UMOJA Magazine, had been Lee’s assistant and advisor for many years.
“Freedom’s Journey” is designed to be both educational and inspirational, exploring the meaning, history, and future of freedom in America. Taylor says that he hopes to see a lot of parents bringing their children to the event.
“It’s critical for young people to understand their history, so that they understand the accomplishments and the contributions that Black people have made, and I think once they understand their history, they will clearly have a better perception of the importance of preserving this history,” he says. “So I absolutely welcome young people to this event.
“We have room for 300 people in person and 500 people online. We still have seats available, but they’re filling fast. I encourage people to go to my website, where they can find additional information,” Taylor adds, referring to www.drcharlestaylor.com.
“Freedom’s Journey” will take place on Wednesday, June 3, 1-3:30 p.m at the Monona Terrace Convention & Community Center. The event is free, but registration is required.
