History Makers

Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” recalls the 1939 mob that burned her family’s home. Decades later, her 1,400-mile walk helped lead to Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday.

Agnes László Geva, 92, recalls surviving Auschwitz and a 400 km death march. Saved by her mother’s courage and her own fluency in German, she now shares her story—and her tattoo—as proof, urging us never to remain indifferent to injustice.

Historian Zonnie Gorman shares the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers, including her father, Carl. These heroes used their native language to help secure every major Pacific battle. As Major Connor noted, without them, Iwo Jima would never have been taken.

Samuel Sandoval, one of the last original Navajo Code Talkers, recalls enlisting in the Marines at 18 to help create an unbreakable code. Using their sacred, unwritten language, he and his brothers-in-arms forged a secret weapon that never fell to the enemy.

Learn about the Frederick Douglass Foundation’s mission to advance education, leadership and the enduring legacy of Frederick Douglass.

Discover how tragedy helped inspire Theodore Roosevelt’s lifelong commitment to protecting natural landscapes.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation celebrates the legacy of the baseball pioneer by empowering future leaders through scholarships, mentorship and educational opportunities.

National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin helped establish the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, ensuring that often-overlooked stories and voices of the war were preserved.

Explore the lasting legacy of Betty Reid Soskin, the National Park Ranger who helped preserve the overlooked stories of World War II and ensured that diverse voices from the home front became part of America’s historical record.