Juneteenth Past and Present

This episode explores the significance of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and shares personal stories reflecting on its legacy and ongoing relevance.

1. Juneteenth is a symbol of freedom and resilience, reflecting a broader narrative of struggle and achievement in black history.
2. Opal Lee's contributions have been crucial in recognizing Juneteenth nationally, showcasing the impact of dedicated activism.
3. The episode underlines the importance of historical awareness in understanding contemporary racial issues.
4. It highlights the diverse perspectives and motivations of black voters in America, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of race in political dialogues.
5. The personal histories shared in the episode illustrate the deep-seated racial challenges and the enduring fight for justice and equality.

1: Introduction to Juneteenth

Brad Mielke introduces Juneteenth and its significance as a federal holiday. He outlines the day's history and its meaning as "America's second Independence Day."

• Brad Mielke: "Juneteenth, a day honoring the emancipation of enslaved Americans..."

2: Opal Lee's Story

DeMarco Morgan discusses Opal Lee's pivotal role in making Juneteenth a recognized federal holiday, her personal history, and her influence as a civil rights icon.

• DeMarco Morgan: "Opal Lee...considers herself everyone's grandmother and fought to make this day recognized as a federal holiday."

3: The Future of Black Americans

The episode explores the future prospects and political engagement of black Americans in an election year, emphasizing the role of race in politics.

• Brad Mielke: "Let's talk about its future right now, because this is an election year, right? A moment when all of this country's divisions and disparities are on full display."

1. Educate yourself on the history of Juneteenth and its relevance today.
2. Engage in community activities that commemorate and honor Juneteenth.
3. Support and participate in local and national movements advocating for racial justice and equality.
4. Reflect on your own community's history and its impact on present racial dynamics.
5. Use personal and community stories to foster dialogue about race and history in educational settings.

In a special edition, “Start Here” meets Opal Lee, the 97 year-old Texan known as “the grandmother of Juneteenth.” Then, we check on the shifting political dynamics among Black male voters in an election sitting on a knife’s edge.

People

Opal Lee, Brad Mielke, DeMarco Morgan

Companies

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Books

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Brad Mielke
Today is Juneteenth, a day honoring the emancipation of enslaved Americans that, after a century and a half, is finally a federal holiday. Remember, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation back in 1863, but the Confederacy didn't surrender for two years. That was April 1865. Two months after that, on June 19, Union troops finally made it to Galveston, Texas, the last stronghold of slavery to once and for all declare every person free. This is America's second Independence day. So today we're gonna do something special for Juneteenth. We're bringing you two different stories, one about the legacy of Juneteenth itself, and then another. We'll look forward a little examining the future of black Americans and how that's being debated in an election year.

Opal Lee
Today, we consecrate Juneteenth for what it ought to be, what it must be, a national holiday.

Brad Mielke
Remember, June 19 has only been recognized as a federal holiday for the last three years. Generations of advocates had to fight for that honor. Perhaps none more. The 97 year old Texan Opal Lee.

Opal Lee
Miss Opal Lee made it her mission to make history, not erase it. We're a better nation because of Opal.

Brad Mielke
And just this weekend, ABC's DeMarco Morgan, the co anchor of GMA three, went to Lee's new home in Texas, in that same community where this holiday originated. DeMarco is with us this morning. Thanks for being with us, DeMarco. What can you tell us about Opal Lee's story?

DeMarco Morgan
I will.

DeMarco Morgan
But first, Brad, it is such an honor to be on the show with you, man. You know, I'm a big fan of yours, so I felt excited just being here. So thanks for having me. But, you know, Opal Lee, man, she is literally a civil rights legend and an icon. But more than that, she considers herself everyone's grandmother. She's, in fact, nicknamed the grandmother of Juneteenth. She pretty much single handedly fought to make sure that this day was recognized as a federal holiday.

Opal Lee
Juneteenth's not a black thing, and it's not a Texas thing. People all over, I don't care what nationality, we all bleed red blood.

DeMarco Morgan
It marks the end of slavery there in Texas. But you fast forward to June 19.

It's another anniversary for her, not just because of the end of slavery, but it's also when she and her family, when she was a little girl, she was twelve years old. This was back in 1939, during the days of Jim Crow.

To leave their home in Fort Worth, Texas, by an angry mob. They had moved to a predominantly white neighborhood, and the whites then didn't want her and her family to be living there, and so they should have. She described this, describes this story so, you know, vividly.

Opal Lee
My parents had bought a house here, and my mom had it fixed up so nice.

And on the 19 June, it was that people started gathering across the street.

DeMarco Morgan
She said the angry mob had gathered outside. They started burning the furniture in the home and smashing the windows. And she remembers her father telling her and her siblings to go up the street, to run up the street, and they hid at someone's home. And her father was left there with her mother, and her father had a gun.

Opal Lee
When my dad came home with a gun, the police told him if he busted a cap, he'd let the mob have us.

DeMarco Morgan
You fast forward. It's been 85 years, more than eight decades now.

They were forced to leave that home.

And there was a reporter, a local reporter, who contacted Miss Opal Lee and said, hey, I found one of these articles. Believe it or not, they had articles from back in 1939 about this situation. It was in a local paper, the Fort Worth Star telegram. They found the articles, and they contacted her. And she started sort of doing her research, trying to figure out, okay, how can I get this home back? How can I at least buy the land? She's volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for quite some time. This is how this story comes full circle.

Opal Lee
What happened was I had tried for years to find out who owned the land.

Finally, I found out that habitat did. I had been on that board.

Opal Lee
Yeah.

DeMarco Morgan
I was about to say, you've done so much work for them. Well, habitat for Humanity actually owns the land where the home is. So she wanted to purchase the land and was sold the land for $10 because she reached out to the CEO of habitat. And not only that, they built the home for the nation.

Brad Mielke
Thanks, Opal Lee, the grandmother of Juneteenth.

DeMarco Morgan
And you had all these other companies and organizations that came forward and paid for the furniture and paid for other items inside the home as a gift to Miss Hopele. So it's a story that comes full circle on so many levels, but, you know, for her to live and see this in her lifetime, it doesn't get any better than this.

Opal Lee
So thankful that God has led me to this point, and it's come full circle.

DeMarco Morgan
Full circle. Yes, it has to be able to get the land where your family was forced out of because of the color of their skin. And ironically, it happened on June 19 and 1939, the same day that June 19, as in Juneteenth, was recognized back in I believe it was 1865.

Brad Mielke
So, wait, so, Demarco, what was it like then? I guess when you moved back to that place that has so many memories built into it. Good and bad, I suppose.

DeMarco Morgan
In her own words, she said she had to do the Holy Ghost dance. That's when, you know, folks get the spirit. They catch the spirit in church. It's pretty known all over the south. Knock, knock. How are you, beautiful?

Opal Lee
Come on in.

DeMarco Morgan
It is so good to see you.

Opal Lee
It's good to see you.

DeMarco Morgan
97 years wear but she said it was very emotional for her. But it was also sort of relieving. And the only regret that she has to this day is that she wished her parents, her mother and father would have lived to see this moment. But I mean, she's so excited.

Opal Lee
I'm awestruck. I'm grateful.

I just so.

I wish my mom and my dad could see me now.

DeMarco Morgan
She's already talking about throwing a block party. I said, you might want to start off with a house warming first. You know, get just a few people overdose. She wants to celebrate with everyone in that neighborhood. But just to see her sitting in this home and, I mean, she's so petite, but to see her sitting in this home with this big smile on her face. And you would never know what happened years ago. And what she had to experience at the age of twelve. And to see that she still has joy when she could be bitter. It was a big moment for me. And I asked her, I said, do you have just a little hatred, you know, in your heart for what happened to you? And she said, absolutely none. I don't hate the people who did this to me and my family. I forgive them.

Opal Lee
It taught me that whatever our circumstances are, there's a God who leads us.

DeMarco Morgan
She really talked about how she wanted it to serve as an example of how you just never give up and you fight for what's yours, for what you deserve. And that's what she's done her entire life. I mean, this woman is known for walking across the country, walking miles, just to make sure that Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday.

Opal Lee
I'm really a little old lady in tennis shoes getting in everybody else's business.

DeMarco Morgan
She also told us that her mom had a few mementos buried in the foundation.

I think it was her mom's wedding dress or something like that was buried in the land, really. And apparently that's still there. So the house, they tore the house down, but they built this new house there. And it's just a big moment for her and a big moment for that community and also for Fort Worth.

Brad Mielke
Well, and DeMarco, like, when I think about this idea of forgiveness, or in her mind, like, not holding hate in your heart, what is her outlook on this day of Juneteenth and it being recognized as a holiday, what is she hoping all Americans take from a day like this that she was so central to recognizing?

DeMarco Morgan
It means a lot for her. And I honestly believe that because of her Texas roots and because of the Texas history, that's why she was at the forefront, making sure that she spent nearly her entire life. And thank God she's still with us today, but making sure that we recognize this day.

If you had a chance to pinch yourself and say, you know what? Wait up, despite all the cameras and the news, this is real.

Opal Lee
I have thanked God and thank God for bringing me to this point.

DeMarco Morgan
She's gonna be walking 2.5 miles the day of Juneteenth to represent the two and a half years. And when you see this woman and you see that she's 97 years old and you hear that she's walking miles, I mean, you can't complain about anything. I mean, she's a firecracker. She is still with us today stronger than ever, and I love everything about it.

Brad Mielke
And really just a symbol of the continued dedication it takes to continue fighting for justice and recognition in this country. Demarco Morgan, really amazing storytelling and a great interview with such a legendary woman. Thank you so much.

DeMarco Morgan
Thank you. And good to be with you, Brad.

Brad Mielke
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Brad Mielke
Okay, so we talked about Black Americas past. Lets talk about its future right now, because this is an election year, right? A moment when all of this countrys divisions and disparities are on full display.

Opal Lee
Theyre trying to erase black history. Were going to write black history because its american history.

Brad Mielke
And candidates once again are asking black Americans for their votes. Race is very much part of this race.

Donald Trump
A lot of people said that. That's why the black people like me, because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against. And they actually viewed me as I'm being discriminated against.

It's been pretty amazing.

Brad Mielke
But black voters were widely credited with getting Joe Biden nominated and then elected in 2020. And what's so interesting when you look at the polling this year is that among black voters, the gap between Joe Biden and Donald Trump has ever so slightly closed. Much of that shift comes specifically from black men, particularly young men. In fact, according to recent ABC polling, while black voters over 50 years old support Biden over Trump by 80 point margins, among younger black voters, that's a 40 point margin, still decisive.

DeMarco Morgan
Right?

Brad Mielke
But in a race this close, any shift could flip the script from four years ago. Well, later tonight, in a special edition of Nightline, co anchor Byron Pitts decided to mark juneteenth by asking black men around the country a simple at this moment in american history, what do you want from your country? What does your country owe you, and where does your vote figure into that today? Byron joins us with a preview. Byron, thanks for being with us. What is the usual playbook, I guess, that campaigns use to court black voters? And are we seeing a difference this time?

Opal Lee
An absolute difference this year? Historically dating back to late 1950s, 1960s, politicians, national politicians, would go to historically black colleges, HBCus, they would go to the black church. And for generations that covered it, or so they thought. Well, we live in a new reality now. And black America, like much of America, is diverse. It's spread. It has a variety of interests and politicians who just go to those two places these days, they are losing ground.

Brad Mielke
And you actually went to a handful of battleground states where especially black men you were speaking to could play this sort of pivotal role. What did you find? I guess.

Opal Lee
Well, one of our first stops was in Atlanta, Georgia, for what's called a battle rap competition.

DeMarco Morgan
Hey, yo, I need everybody be quiet. So we check these mics right quick.

Opal Lee
Rappers from across the country gather to put on this competition, sort of the underground, original roots of rap, if you will, in this country.

DeMarco Morgan
We in the House of Representatives. My name is selling a minute. Ain't no snitching on the ticket. You a tell that a minute. Things don't know me by my government. I get work from the mayor, and I tell them the Senate.

Opal Lee
And these are young men, for the most part, who you won't find at a historically backed church you certainly won't find on most HBCU campuses across the country. What is this conference, what's it called, and what's its purpose?

DeMarco Morgan
It's called no cap.

No cap. And for all the world that don't know, no cap in young black man languages means no lies. This is the truth. And our purpose was to talk to the people who are talking to black men that don't participate in election.

Opal Lee
And we talked to the organizer, Mondel Robinson, who said, as he says, it isn't an issue of apathy, but antipathy.

DeMarco Morgan
Apathy means you're nonchalant about something. You don't have a. You're not moved by it. There's no apathy in black men. There's a level of antipathy. Antipathy is a whole different emotion.

You hate what politics is and does because you've not seen the growth or benefit of it. Black men are not better off because of politics.

Opal Lee
The organizer of the event called these, the people who typically politicians don't speak to. But in a race that'll be so tight as this one will likely be, all demographics matter.

DeMarco Morgan
Why you never used your influence to be the bridge to this?

DeMarco Morgan
The fact you couldn't beat a gateway.

DeMarco Morgan
I took offense to it.

Opal Lee
So we talked to two well known battle rappers, hit Manhala and John John the Don. If either one of you ever voted in a presidential election.

DeMarco Morgan
One time, one time, one time.

Opal Lee
When was that?

DeMarco Morgan
Obama.

Opal Lee
Your point to your hand? Voted for the brother, voted for the black man.

DeMarco Morgan
And then what happened? Nothing. Things happened, but not in our favor.

Opal Lee
So both these young men in their thirties, they have families, they are entrepreneurs as well as musicians, and they spoke plainly that as far as they see it, Democrats nor Republicans speak to the issues that concern them.

DeMarco Morgan
Voting is the last thing on my mind. It's just the last thing on my mind. It just don't make sense of what's going on in real life and what y'all want me to vote for. Y'all want me to vote for what?

So Mike Brown can get shot ten times in his head?

That's what I vote for.

So George Floyd get killed on camera, bro. What am I voting for?

Opal Lee
They brought up names like George Floyd, whether a Democrat or a Republican, was in the White House. What happened to him still happened. What happened to Breonna Taylor still happened. Regardless of who was in the White House, black unemployment is still, while better, is still dramatically higher than white unemployment. And so these young men look at it and say, as one of them said, sir, are you telling me to burn my hand in the toaster or burn my hand in the oven?

Brad Mielke
Did they say who they're gonna, are they voting?

Opal Lee
They haven't landed yet where they will vote, but in many instances they are leaning towards Donald Trump.

DeMarco Morgan
Yes, I am. I feel like it was more change when Trump was in office than Biden. If we gotta compare what's going on, like he said, I feel like Trump is more upfront. You know, we battle rappers, we deal with. I grew up in a household where my parents had no filter, so I grew up with tough skin. I grew up and they telling you what it is, so I work better that way. Tell me what it is to my face on what it is. And I feel like Trump is like that. Like he'll tell you if he don't like you.

Opal Lee
For them, they think Donald Trump is a voice that they recognize. They buy into some of the same things. If you talk to hardcore MAGA, republicans buy into that. He is a businessman, he speaks straight, he's under traditional politician.

DeMarco Morgan
Why is Biden giving all this money to Ukraine and funding like, that's all I see for Biden, he just funding Israel.

Opal Lee
And for these two young men in particular, that appeals to them. And they're not fully sold on Donald Trump. They have real questions about him, about his character, about his policies. But right now, if the election was held today, I would say Donald Trump stands a better chance of getting their vote than Joe Biden.

Donald Trump
It should be 100% of the black people should vote for Trump because I did more for black people than any president other than Abraham Lincoln. It's true.

Brad Mielke
Well, and Trump has made this huge, very public outreach to black voters. Right. In some cases, you know, he's holding events in inner cities. It's not always locals that are the ones closest to the cameras. But, like, he's having the events. He's been saying his mugshot resonates with black voters who have had interactions with the criminal justice system.

Donald Trump
The mugshot. We've all seen the mugshot. And, you know who embraced it more than anybody else? The black population. It's incredible. You see?

Brad Mielke
So, I mean, whether the rhetoric or just the events and the locations, is any of this having an effect, Byron, my estimation?

Opal Lee
In a word, no. I think for mega Republicans who happen to be black, this is music to their ears.

DeMarco Morgan
As a black man in America, I can attest to the fact I have family members impacted by the criminal justice system. We understand that that heart rate goes up when those lights go on behind you. We understand that light.

Opal Lee
Abdul Ali from North Carolina, who's running for congressman, he is a proud Trump supporter, though he makes a distinction. He's not a MAGA Republican, but he is a Republican who supports Donald Trump.

DeMarco Morgan
Was that a racist comment? No. But if they can do that to the president of the United States, they can do that to anybody.

Opal Lee
His argument is that he believes, when it comes to policy, that the policies of Donald Trump more align with him as a conservative Republican than Joe Biden. Now, if you talk about character, that's a different conversation.

DeMarco Morgan
Now, do I agree with some of the things he says? Am I a fan of the mean tweets and calling people out of their name? I don't think that has any place in civilized politics. I don't.

Opal Lee
But when he's making his vote as a conservative black Republican, for him, issues like abortion, issues like gun rights, issues like limited government, for him, he sides with Donald Trump.

DeMarco Morgan
And going back to, like, the video, like, being relatable to black people just cause he went to jail, is not true. Like, I don't. I don't see how that's foggy. Or laughable. Jokeable.

Opal Lee
But I think when you talk to rank and file African Americans that we have across the country, the overwhelming reaction was either a laugh or they were offended by it.

DeMarco Morgan
That video showed me that he uses any and everything to try to relate, to get to what he wants.

DeMarco Morgan
I mean, and this is another example of money, power, privilege, in my opinion.

Opal Lee
We also went to North Carolina, which has the second largest number of historically black colleges in the country, only behind Alabama. And we talked to young men from North Carolina A and T St. Augustine College in Raleigh, a student from Winston Salem State. And these are all strong HbCus in North Carolina. And so these are all young men who are focused on their education, who have aspirations of being successful in business and other industries.

To a person, they were leaning towards Joe Biden. Not excited about it at all.

DeMarco Morgan
Who gonna represent me the best and, like, me and my people, so.

Opal Lee
Okay. And you think that's Joe Biden?

DeMarco Morgan
Yes, sir.

Opal Lee
You know, they talked about how, you know, members in their family were excited when they had the opportunity to vote for Barack Obama. That same level of enthusiasm did not exist anywhere that we went, but in particular, with these young men who were all college students, or one was a recent college graduate. What issues matter most to you guys this election?

DeMarco Morgan
I'm so politically tired. Like, I don't even know what issues I care about anymore. I know that reproductive rights, for me, it's important, but it's like, I'm tired.

Opal Lee
What we saw across the country was lukewarm reception to both men.

There was certainly people had strong personal feelings about Donald Trump, where people seem in general to think that Joe Biden was a more reasonable human being than a Donald Trump. But most people we talked to didn't see a dramatic enough difference in their policies, a dramatically enough difference in who they are as men, to say, I'm going with that guy for sure. Absolutely.

Brad Mielke
Is it possible that because of that, a lot of black voters in particular just throw up their hands and say, eh, like, neither of these guys are for me, I'm not gonna vote at all? Like, is that a real possibility here?

Opal Lee
Oh, I think so. I think you're onto something there. We also went to Saginaw, Michigan. We talked to people who have voted religiously their entire adult life, who this time are considering sitting out because they are so dissatisfied with their options.

DeMarco Morgan
This was another auto plant that closed down.

We are still reeling from the effects of the auto industry and how it impacted our community.

Opal Lee
Hurley Coleman from the Saginaw County Community Action Committee took us around to meet people in the community.

DeMarco Morgan
Hello, how you doing?

Opal Lee
And he's someone who sees every day the frustration by voters there who feel like they don't have good options.

DeMarco Morgan
And so that's still the reason why a lot of what I know, African Americans are just sitting on the sideline. If it came down to 300 votes in 2020, then we have to do an even better job educating the voters and understanding what their needs are so that they are prepared to vote.

I'm tired of being forced to choose the lesser or the greater evils.

Opal Lee
Antonio Brooks, who's a local drug counselor in the Saginaw, Michigan area, a father who has voted in the past with great passion, who simply says this time doesn't feel great about his options.

DeMarco Morgan
All we do is go in, just vote for straight ticket democrats all the time, and we're not holding them accountable. We just giving them our vote. If I feel like you don't deserve it, I'm not giving it to you anymore.

Opal Lee
One of the unique things I think for many black voters in America is this notion of history, this notion of respecting the struggles their ancestors went through.

H
My motivation in voting goes back to being a child, when my parents, when blacks was not allowed to vote.

Opal Lee
Roy Baldwin, a local business owner, he owns a restaurant. He used to work in the auto industry. What he said, we heard in every place that we went.

H
See, it's not so much of who gets in the office, but it has a lot to do with, at least I have a choice.

Opal Lee
If you are black in America of a certain age, either your parents or your grandparents or your great grandparents did not have the right to vote in this country. So for many people, for many of us, that is an added layer of responsibility separate from or even beyond the notion of being a law abiding american citizen who believes in democracy.

DeMarco Morgan
I think it's really important. You know, like, our ancestors fought for this.

H
At least I gave my choice. I made a choice.

DeMarco Morgan
Even if you feel like you're not connected to it, we need you.

From another black man to another black man, we need you.

Opal Lee
I think for many black voters, there is also the whispers of your ancestors who say, many of us died for this right. Many of us bled for this right. You have a responsibility, whether you like either candidate to cast your vote, if not for yourself, then for the future or for us.

Brad Mielke
Really interesting story here. Byron Pitts, co anchor of Nightline. Thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

Opal Lee
Always a pleasure, my friend. I'll see you down the road.

Brad Mielke
Okay. And that will do it for us on this Juneteenth. I hope you have a restful holiday, wherever you are. We will be back with all of the news of day tomorrow. I'm Brad Milke. See you then.

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Opal Lee
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