Kadir Nelson's New Yorker Cover Celebrates Kamala Harris's Historic Election

The New Yorker's November 23, 2020 issue features a cover painting titled 'Sweet Liberty' by artist Kadir Nelson (born 1974 in Silver Spring, Maryland). The artwork depicts a young African American girl proudly holding an American flag, symbolizing the historic election of Kamala Harris as the first woman of African and Asian descent elected Vice President of the United States. The cover was released during a pivotal year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed attention on racial inequality, with the phrase 'I can't breathe' recalled by commentator Van Jones on CNN. The article, written by Alessandro Berni, argues that Harris's election will inspire millions of girls and women worldwide, especially those from immigrant, African American, Asian, and other minority backgrounds. It notes that 55 years after the Voting Rights Act removed barriers to African American voting, the pandemic exposed the realities of ghettos and suffering. The piece speculates that other artists will follow Nelson in incorporating Harris's election into their work, and that future generations will see themselves reflected in the White House.