In the months following the death of George Floyd we have all bore witness to the social media outrage, the protests, and the all-too-late realization that America does not serve all of her citizens equally. Amidst this outrage, Breonna Taylor’s name frequented Twitter feeds and Instagram stories, demanding justice be served to the cops who entered her home and killed her on March 13th.
As the outrage died down and the posts became less frequent, it seemed the world had lost sight of the injustice that transpired that night in March. Oprah Winfrey intends to remind us all of Breonna, her life, and a cry for justice.
In an Instagram post featuring artwork by 24-year-old digital artist Alexis Franklin, Winfrey wrote:
She was just like me. She was just like you. And like everyone who dies unexpectedly, she had plans. Plans for a future filled with responsibility and work and friends and laughter. I think about Breonna Taylor often. 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 @oprahmagazine. The September issue honors her life and the life of every other Black woman whose life has been taken too soon.
Winfrey’s choice is significant. For the last 20 years Oprah has graced the cover of every magazine in her name. This change is certainly worth noting, and that’s exactly the point.
By using her platform to remind her readers and fans that justice has not been served, Oprah draws attention to the need for action. Detective Joshua Jaynes, Sgt. John Mattingly, and Officers Brett Hankison and Myles Cosgrove have still not been arrested.
Oprah Magazine’s choice reminds us that Breonna Taylor’s life mattered, though the justice system has yet to recognize that. This young woman with aspirations and plans for her future deserves to be remembered. If nothing else, this cover serves as a beautiful memorial of Breonna Taylor…a woman who didn’t deserve to die on March 13th.
