The cover of the University of Richmond Magazine's fall 2020 issue features a photograph, shot by UR journalism professor Brian Palmer, taken less than 6 miles from our campus, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer. The image depicts the equestrian statue of confederate general Robert E. Lee, on Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA, with a piece of art cast onto it from a light projector that reads “No America Without Black America.” The cover is connected to a feature article called “Season of Change?" that incorporates three different voices—a recent graduate, a law professor, and Palmer's—inspired by the death of George Floyd and the protests that ensued in the aftermath.
From the Judges
We were struck by this photograph and impressed that it was kind of a “found” image, in that it was not a commission but a faculty photograph. It also felt like a provocative choice, and we suspected that that would give the cover added impact with its audience. We felt this really hit its mark in evoking a moment.
