Black Cherokee is a coming-of-age story that follows a young African American woman with roots in the South Carolina Cherokeee nation as she seeks to establish her identity within both communities. The publisher’s design brief called for a book cover that subtly conveys elements of the two cultures and projects a strength and determination in the main character without presenting a too-literal portrait. The large bold type of the title does much of the messaging here, aided by a simple spine detail taken from a Carolinian Cherokee basket pattern. A minimalist line drawing of the heroine avoids too much specificity, while the strong jawline, jutting chin and sharply angled brows all speak to the strength of the woman’s character.