NEED TO KNOW

Angélique Roché’s First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth chronicles Dr. Opal Lee’s efforts to secure national recognition for American emancipation with its own holiday, Juneteenth

“There is a unique relationship created when a writer is entrusted with someone’s life story, especially one as impactful as Dr. Opal L. Lee,” the author tells PEOPLE

First Freedom is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold

Angélique Roché is keeping the legacy of Dr. Opal Lee — known as the grandmother of Juneteenth — alive through the first-ever graphic novel dedicated to the holiday.

PEOPLE has an exclusive look at First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth , which is a 208-page biography that chronicles the “inspirational journey and resilient d

See Full Page