This Barbie Inspiring Women doll honors Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” She has dedicated her life to advocating for positive change as a teacher, counselor, and community activist.
At the age of 89, Opal Lee walked hundreds of miles to Washington, D.C. to petition lawmakers to make Juneteenth a national holiday. In 2021, her dream became a reality when legislation was passed.
Every Juneteenth she continues to host a 2.5 mile walk to commemorate the 2.5 years it took for news and enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach the enslaved people in Texas.
Fittingly, her Barbie doll wears a blue Unity Unlimited Opal’s Walk For Freedom t-shirt. Glasses, white pants, and sneakers complete the civil rights advocate’s look.
Opal Lee has been a changemaker in historical preservation and community advocacy, and in 2024 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
The Opal Lee Barbie Inspiring Women doll comes in displayable packaging and makes for a meaningful gift to be cherished for years to come.