(L) Amy Sherald’s painting of Breonna Taylor for Vanity Fair September 2020 issue; (M) Photo of artist Amy Sherald with Breonna Taylor painting by Joseph Hyde; (R) Amy Sherald painting of former First Lady Michelle Obama for Smithsonian Museum.

Ta-Nehisi Coates Collage by AOC. Coates image by Eduardo Montes-Bradley CC BY-SA 4.0

Vanity Fair editor in chief Radhika Jones announced that Ta-Nehisi Coates is acting as guest editor for the September issue of the magazine. The special edition explores art, activism, and power in 21st-century America.

“There’s no one better suited than Ta-Nehisi to illuminate this urgent moment in American history—to answer the question, why is this time different?” said Jones. “We are honored to collaborate with him on this project, bringing together the writers, artists, and icons whose work pushes us toward a more just world.”

Coates, a renowned journalist and writer gained a wide readership during his time as national correspondent at The Atlantic, where he wrote about cultural, social, and political issues, particularly regarding African Americans and white supremacy. He, is considered an essential voice on subjects of history and American culture and the best-selling author of ‘The Beautiful Struggle’, ‘We Were Eight Years in Power’, ‘Between the World and Me’, and ‘The Water Dancer.’ Coates is also the current author of the Marvel comics ‘Black Panther ‘and ‘Captain America’.

“I’m honored to be partnering with Radhika and the entire Vanity Fair staff on this project,” said Coates. “Equally, I’m humbled that so many of this country’s best writers and artists have agreed to participate. The moment is too big for any one of us to address alone.”

In addition to Coates, the September issue features more than 40 prominent writers, artists, and photographers, including Eve L. Ewing, Bomani Jones, Ava DuVernay, Josie Duffy Rice, Jesmyn Ward, Danez Smith, Deana Lawson, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Kiese Makeba Laymon, Jacqueline Woodson, Franklin Leonard, Kimberly Drew, Hank Willis Thomas, Diana Ejaita, Marjon Carlos, Zerina Akers, Ruth Ossai, Shawn Martinbrough, Ola Ebiti, Calida Rawles, Renell Medrano, Lynsey Weatherspoon, Jason Bolden, Dana Scruggs, Phylicia J. L. Munn, Levi Walton, Lawrence Agyei, Braylen Dion, Bruce Bennett, Paul Octavious, Shan Wallace, Djeneba Aduayom, Wulf Bradley, Miranda Barnes, Arielle Bobb-Willis, Sophia Wilson, Erik Carter, Kennedi Carter, Myles Loftin, Quil Lemons, Adrienne Raquel, Andrea Ellen Reed, John Edmonds, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, and Monica Ahanonu.