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

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.”








