Check Out Our Exclusive Excerpt From THE FIRST FREEDOM: THE STORY OF OPAL LEE AND JUNETEENTH

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Juneteenth is increasingly recognized as a national holiday, and rightfully so. While July 4th commemorates the Declaration of Independence and the birth of US independence from Great Britain, it didn’t bring freedom to everyone. Enslaved African Americans, who weren’t considered fully human at the time, remained in bondage. Even after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, those enslaved in Galveston, Texas, didn’t learn they were free until June 19th, 1865 – over two years later.

Juneteenth has long been an important day for Black Americans in Texas, celebrating freedom and independence. Today, more and more people nationwide are recognizing this important date, largely thanks to the efforts of Opal Lee. This Texas activist, counselor, and retired teacher spent years organizing walks and gathering signatures to make Juneteenth a national holiday. In 2021, her dedication paid off when President Joe Biden signed legislation officially establishing June 19th as a federal holiday. She’s affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.”

As Opal Lee approaches her 100th birthday, her inspiring story is now available in a beautifully illustrated graphic novel called The First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth. Written by journalist Angélique Roché and featuring artwork from Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe, with lettering by Alexis Bennett and Andworld Design and coloring by Damali Beatty, the book is designed to share an accurate historical account with readers of all ages.

It’s more important than ever to focus on truth and reality when so much misinformation, artificial intelligence, and harmful rewriting of history are spreading. To celebrate Black History Month, a new book called The First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth will be released on February 3rd, and we’re sharing some exclusive excerpts. These pages (121-125) from the 208-page book go back to the 1970s and 80s, showing activists confronting members of the Texas Klan who opposed the Juneteenth holiday. We also see Opal Lee and her granddaughter meeting with influential figures.




Here’s more information about this historic graphic novel for context: 

This new biography tells the inspiring story of Dr. Opal Lee, affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth. The book details her decades-long fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday recognizing the end of slavery in the United States.

In the preface to the book, Angélique Roché explains that while the book discusses Juneteenth, Opal Lee’s influence extends far beyond the fight for a national holiday. Even before her work with Juneteenth committees or her walk to Washington D.C., Ms. Lee consistently took initiative and worked tirelessly on issues large and small, acting as a one-person force for change. As a daughter, sister, mother, friend, teacher, and activist, she has always challenged limitations, driven by her family history and faith. Roché hopes the book captures at least a glimpse of Ms. Lee’s remarkable spirit and the incredible power of her life and legacy through words, photos, timelines, and references.

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2026-02-02 18:03