First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth
Writer: Angélique Roché
Artists: Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, Millicent Monroe
Colorist: Damali Beatty
Flatters: Dylan B. Caleho, Veronica Johnson, Heather Breckel
Letterers: Alexis Bennett with AndWorld Design
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date: February 10, 2026
After the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it took two and a half years and military enforcement for Texas slave owners to follow the law. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas. Over a century later, in 1980, the state celebrated Juneteenth as a state holiday—and in 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making it a federal holiday.
Educator, advocate, and activist Dr. Opal Lee fought for decades to see Juneteenth recognized nationally, and walked all over the country to bring awareness to the cause (2.5 miles a day, twice a day, to represent the two and a half years slaves in Texas waited to learn that they had been freed). With the help of her granddaughter, Dione Sims, Dr. Lee also amassed over 1.6 million signatures on a Change.org petition calling for federal recognition of Juneteenth.
First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth is a deeply researched, beautifully executed, historical and biographical graphic novel about Dr. Lee and the establishment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. It also dives into Black American history, highlighting the long fight for equality and freedom—which, as Dr. Lee says herself throughout the book, has yet to truly happen.
Writer Angélique Roché conducted significant research for more than a year to craft the book’s narrative, and it shows in the depth and breadth of the story. Although it would be impossible to provide a complete history lesson around Juneteenth’s historic roots in such a short page count, Roché manages to establish enough political and social context to drive home its significance in an emotionally resonant way.
The story never becomes confusing or overwhelming, despite spanning more than a century. This is the mark of both excellent pacing and intentional framing, and it’s a truly marvelous reading experience.
Three artists with bespoke styles—Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe—further contribute to the feeling of time passing in First Freedom, additionally allowing each part of the story to breathe on its own while still feeling connected to the rest. Flashbacks are cleverly handled through literal reflections, and letterers Alexis Bennett and AndWorld Design clearly distinguish between dialogue, exposition, and documentation without sacrificing style or aesthetic.
Colorist Damali Beatty makes each artist’s illustrations come to life. Each period has its own color story, each one highlighting Dr. Lee as an inimitable force of nature who uses her incredible drive to fight for what matters. Dr. Lee, Sims, and those around them (including other major historical figures, like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) seem to actually breathe on the page. The closer Dr. Lee gets to her goal of seeing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, the brighter things become—both figuratively and literally.
Of course, the work hasn’t stopped since 2021, nor will it. In many ways, this is the perfect time for First Freedom to hit shelves. First Freedom is simultaneously educational and motivational, with plenty of resources for readers should they want to pick up the torch and continue Dr. Lee’s work. To be frank, it seems unlikely that anyone could read this book and not feel moved to activism.
In October, Dr. Lee will celebrate her 100th birthday, and she is still using her voice to fight for positive, progressive change. First Freedom captures just one piece of her expansive legacy, and its impact—much like its subject’s—is sure to be felt for years to come.
Final Verdict: Buy
First Freedom is available now via publisher Oni Press.
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