Opal Lee And What It Means To Be Free , by author Alice Faye Duncan, and illustrated by New York Times bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo, tells the inspiring story of Opal Lee, a black activist that builds on her vision to make Juneteenth a holiday for every American to celebrate, as it represents our nation's creed of 'freedom for all'.
Opal Lee looked forward to the yearly Juneteenth picnic which celebrated President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, and the news of freedom it provided to all citizens. One Juneteenth celebration when Opal Lee was just 12 years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. From that day on, Opal committed the rest of her life to stand up for equality and unity for all.
Key takeaways:
All people are created equal
The history of Juneteenth, and what it means today