In the winter of 2026, as the United States approached its semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—Teyana Taylor graced the cover of Vanity Fair, embodying a powerful symbol of freedom.

In the shadow of February 21, 1965—a date etched in American history as the day Malcolm X was assassinated—the nation once again confronts the fragility of democracy. As we approach the 61st anniversary in 2026, this milestone not only commemorates a pivota