Oni Press has announced the upcoming graphic novel First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth, set to come to stores February 2026, 46-years after Juneteenth became a statewide holiday in Texas. The graphic novel follows activist Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. Author and journalist Angélique Roché has partnered with artists Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe. Each artist chronicles a different chapter in the life of Opal Lee.
Here’s the official synopsis of the graphic novel and more about Opal Lee:
From the 1860s to Ms. Opal’s childhood home and onward through her years as a teacher to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth seeks to give readers an insight into the history behind one of the most recognized 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 join 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 resilience that leads to lasting change in the hearts and minds of people. As the Grandmother of Juneteenth says, “If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.”
Discover the life of an extraordinary woman’s path through contemporary American history and the rarely told true story of the Juneteenth holiday itself in First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth – coming in February 2026 from Oni Press.
