Family members working together at Alaska is more common than you think. But what’s rare is being related to someone who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Teria B., a customer service agent in Austin, Texas and Erica B., a flight attendant based in Portland, Oregon, are cousins and part of a large family—consisting of about 500-600 people—including Dr. Opal Lee, a retired teacher, counselor and activist, and is often regarded as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” for her help in making it a federal holiday.
Opal is also Teria and Erica’s oldest cousin at 96 years old and still attends family reunions, but she doesn’t expect a red carpet to roll out for her.
“She [Opal] is such a family person – she’s down to earth and that’s what I love about her,” says Teria.
For Opal, it’s never been about recognition or fame. She comes from a family of humanitarians so giving back and making the world a better place for future generations is in her blood.
“She was always very passionate about helping others,” said Erica. “People kind of look at her as like a celebrity, but she is a humanitarian first and foremost before anything else. Her purpose and what drives her is being of service to others, and that’s in our blood.”
What is Juneteenth?
Today marks the 158th year since Juneteenth’s inception, commemorating the day when the last enslaved African Americans learned they were free. Many may not know that while the Emancipation...
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