On Jan. 18, Governor Wes Moore was officially sworn into office on the steps of the Maryland State House. The first Black man to take the governor’s seat in the state publicly stepped into his role on the steps of a building built by slaves, with his hand on a bible that belonged to the world-renowned abolitionist and Maryland native, Frederick Douglass.

Moore was introduced by celebrity journalist and activist Oprah Winfrey, and throughout the day those who know the new governor personally spoke about his integrity and courage to make change. 

Photos by James Fields

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