National Juneteenth Museum project moves forward
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"Grandmother of Juneteenth" Opal Lee turned 100 Wednesday and, in true Opal Lee fashion, celebrated the milestone by promoting freedom and justice all day long.
Why it matters: Lee's legacy includes the National Juneteenth Museum, which will be constructed in the neighborhood where she has continued to live despite a white mob burning down her childhood home in 1939.
Driving the news: Fort Worth residents and community leaders gathered Wednesday in Fort Worth's Historic Southside neighborhood to watch the demolition of the Southside Community Center, where the National Juneteenth Museum will be constructed.
- The crowd sang Stevie Wonder's rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Lee — twice — before the demolition began.
- In the evening, former first lady Michelle Obama served as a keynote speaker at an event in honor of Lee and her civil rights advocacy.
State of play: The National Juneteenth Museum is slated to open in 2029 and will house galleries, gardens, a 250-seat theater, business incubator and food hall.
- The community center has moved to a different location to make way for the museum.
- "Today is a new redemption arc for Fort Worth. It's an opportunity for forgiveness, an opportunity to start over, and importantly, to thank Dr. Opal Lee for what she represents — not just for this city, but for our entire country," Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said at the demolition event.
Follow the money: Jarred Howard, the museum's CEO, says the $70 million project still has $15 million left to raise.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that it will contribute $3 million toward the museum's construction and a genealogy center for visitors to browse historical records of African Americans who may be in their family tree.
What they're saying: Lee's family says her wisdom from over the years will continue to influence how they show up in their community.
- "History is not something you leave behind; it's something you actively protect," said Renee Toliver, a federal judge and Lee's granddaughter.