--- title: Opal Lee's Life is a Testament to the Power of Optimism description: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board wrote that Opal Lee's life is a testament to the power of optimism and service. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Lighthouse%20on%20the%20beach%20at%20dawn.jpg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) # Opal Lee's Life is a Testament to the Power of Optimism The Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board wrote that Opal Lee's life is a testament to the power of optimism and service. *"She is proof that power comes in many forms, including a one-time teacher whose main tools were activism and persistence. Lee survived a horrific racist attack on her family and endured decades of segregation. Where many would have succumbed to anger or even hopelessness, Lee went to work. She teaches lessons the world needs badly right now: How love can prevail over apathy and even bitterness. That one person can change minds and hearts. That patience and dedication can fuel remarkable progress in the course of one lifetime."* > We stand on the shoulders of leaders like John Lewis and Opal Lee. It's because of their relentless pursuit of justice, and those that they inspired along the way, that I am optimistic for our future. > > — Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (@RepEBJ) [July 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/RepEBJ/status/1417119068931432452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)     [![Read More From Optimists on their Optimism](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/b28d9049-955d-4f8d-8209-f424430aad8b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/b28d9049-955d-4f8d-8209-f424430aad8b) [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) , ###### [Innovation](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/innovation) , ###### [Optimism Gap](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/optimism-gap) #### [Innovation Remains One of America’s Great Reservoirs of Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/innovation-remains-one-of-americas-great-reservoirs-of-optimism?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/innovation-remains-one-of-americas-great-reservoirs-of-optimism?hsLang=en) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) #### [America 250 and the Optimism Advantage](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/america-250-and-the-optimism-advantage?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/america-250-and-the-optimism-advantage?hsLang=en) ###### [United States of America](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-states-of-america) , ###### [Kamala Harris](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/kamala-harris) #### [The Light of Optimism: Kamala Harris](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/kamalaconcession?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/kamalaconcession?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### [Services](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop?hsLang=en) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ##### The Centre for Optimism - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### Services - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ©2026 The Centre for Optimism - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Victor Perton", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton" }, "dateModified" : "2022-10-14T20:06:51.553Z", "datePublished" : "2022-10-14T20:06:51.000Z", "headline" : "Opal Lee's Life is a Testament to the Power of Optimism", "image" : [ "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Lighthouse%20on%20the%20beach%20at%20dawn.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/opal-lee", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg" }, "name" : "The Centre for Optimism" } } ```