Why Black Millennials Are Moving South

Cannaday Chapman’s illustration succinctly captures the trend of black millennials leaving or avoiding New York in The Times Opinion article, “Racism Is Everywhere, So Why Not Move South?” published July 8, 2017. The image is part of our collection of editorial illustrations being offered for the first time ever to the public as unframed or framed fine-art prints.

In the article, author Reniqua Allen says that Black millennials are avoiding New York for Southern cities like Atlanta, Miami and Dallas. “Black people have been moving to the South for years, of course, and it’s not a trend reserved for the young,” she writes. “But to me it’s beginning to seem that black millennial culture — the center of black life — and the idea of black hope and opportunity are now squarely located in the South.”

Cannaday Chapman is an artist from Rochester, N.Y. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he was awarded a Silas H. Rhodes scholarship. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Chapman worked for five years in the advertising and fashion industries. He also worked as a freelance Illustrator and showed his work in galleries in New York City and Italy. Chapman is influenced by such artists as Toulouse-Lautrec, David Hockney, Henri Matisse and Rene Gruau. He’s a big fan of Japanese and American comics and animation. These influences are still evident in his work today. Chapman likes to explore the themes of diversity and the beauty of everyday life in his work.