One of the most exciting parts about writing a book is finally getting to see the cover. After year’s of looking at the book in black and white text, seeing the final cover is the moment when it all finally starts to feel real. I was super excited earlier this week to see the final cover for my book!

I could not love it more, and I hope you like it too!

The central image comes courtesy of artist Titus Kaphar, who was kind enough to allow me to use it for the cover. Much of Kaphar’s work explores erasures, silences, and distortions in the way we present the nation’s history, and his approach aligns really well with the story I tell in this book.

In this piece in particular, he created a very traditional portrait of George Washington and nailed over top of it a shredded document: Washington’s advertisement for the return of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who emancipated herself from Washington while he was President in Philadelphia in the 1790s. In so doing, the work forces us to consider the overlapping nature of Washington the hero and Washington the enslaver. It demands we think in new ways about the way we usually see Washington visually presented and the absence of slavery in those depictions.

I could not imagine a more fitting image for my cover. Much of Kaphar’s other work explores similar themes with equally creative, challenging, and thought-provoking approaches. I encourage you to explore his work here.

The book will be published in Spring 2026, and I’ll more information about pub date, pre-orders, and events in the coming months!

Finally, I’m booking speaking events now for next Winter/Spring. If you’re considering events for President’s Day, Black History Month, or the 250th anniversary in the first half of 2026, please get in touch!

Finally, if you’d like to receive updates about the book, including when it’s available for pre-order, please subscribe below.