For the first time 20 years, Oprah decided to put someone aside from herself on the cover of her magazine publication, O. Oprah wanted to bring more awareness to racial inequality in America, which is why she made the decision.
Breonna Taylor graces the cover of the September issue, which focuses on anti-racism and white privilege. In Oprah Instagram, she said, Breonna Taylor was just like you and me who had plans for her future.
“Plans for a future filled with responsibility and work and friends and laughter. Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping. And your partner fired a gun to protect you. And then mayhem. What I know for sure: We can’t be silent. We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine. I cry for justice in her name.”
The cover features a digital image of Breonna Taylor, which was created by a 24-year-old black self-trained digital artist, Alexis Franklin. She said she was happy to play a “small” part in this, USA Today reports.
“I am so happy to play a small part in this long-overdue, world-changing narrative on racial injustice and police brutality,” she said. “The original photo is one Breonna took herself and has been featured in the news many times. Looking at it, I see an innocence, simple but powerful. It was critical for me to retain that.”
Breonna’s life was taken at the hands of Louisville Kentucky police back on March 13. She was only 26. The three people responsible for her death, remain free.