Dr. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, spent decades advocating for an official, national holiday recognizing American emancipation. Today, The Beat can share an exclusive first look at First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth, a new graphic novel from Oni Press that follows her story and explores the origins of Juneteenth.
Created alongside and with support from Dr. Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, First Freedom is written by Angélique Roché and features art by Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe, with colors by Damali Beatty and letters by Alexis Bennett with AndWorld Design.
Here is the book’s synopsis:
From the 1860s to Ms. Opal’s childhood home, from her years as a teacher to the White House, First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth seeks to give readers an insight into the history behind one of the central figures in the creation of America’s newest federal holiday, Juneteenth.
Born in 1926, Opal Lee grew up in a racially divided America and dedicated her life to overcoming the obstacles presented therein. A lifelong educator, Ms. Opal has been a community activist all her life, and would take on the movement to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth not just as a holiday, but as a symbol of comprehensive freedom for all people.
Ms. Opal’s life personifies the fight for everyday freedom that leads to lasting change. As the Grandmother of Juneteenth says, “There is so much more to do.”
The events of the book culminate in June 2021, when Dr. Lee sat in the front row of the White House as an honored guest when President Joe Biden signed the bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. First Freedom‘s publication comes five years after the holiday became nationally recognized and 46 years after it was first recognized as a statewide holiday in Texas. It’s also part of a celebration of Dr. Lee’s upcoming 100th birthday.
See an excerpt from the graphic novel below.
“This book tells our history in a way young people love—and it’s rooted in the truth,” said Dr. Lee. “It’s a powerful tool to get them reading and learning.”
“I believe it is important to note that while this book gives ample space to the conversation of Juneteenth, Ms. Opal’s impact has been and continues to reach further than just the fight for a national holiday,” writes Roché in the book’s preface. “Even before Ms. Opal chaired a Juneteenth committee or set her sights on walking to D.C., she had time and time again made herself a ‘committee of one.’
“As a daughter, sister, mother, friend, educator, advocate, and activist, she has set out to accomplish tasks big and small. Guided by family legacy and faith, she continues to challenge the limitations others would place on us from the ordinary to the extraordinary,” Roché continues. “That is the story I set out to tell, with the sincere hope that in these words, pictures, timelines, and references, I’ve been able to capture even a modicum of her spirit and an iota of the vastness of personal power her life and legacy represent.”
Roché did extensive research for First Freedom, including in-person interviews with Dr. Lee. This biographical graphic novel also includes backmatter with insights to the history of Juneteenth and the book’s creation.
“First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth is a testament to the truly inspirational courage of Dr. Opal Lee,” said Oni Press Editor-in-Chief Sierra Hahn. “The book is an essential read not only for librarians, teachers, historians, and activists, but anyone interested in American history, the power of activism, and the expression of personal freedom.”
First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth will be available everywhere books are sold on February 10.
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