Photo showing 3-year-old girl high-five new Harriet Tubman mural goes viral

A photograph showing a three-year-old girl giving a high-five to a mural of Harriet Tubman, the African American abolitionist who led hundreds of people out of slavery, is making the rounds on social media.

In the photo, the young girl, named Lovie, can be seen high-fiving Tubman’s extended hand in the painting.

A post from journalist Yashar Ali featuring the photo has already racked up nearly 12,000 likes since it was shared on Twitter over the weekend. 

The original photo was captured by Lovie’s grandmother, Tracy Kilgore Lynndee, during their recent visit to the new mural, which was painted outside the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center in Cambridge, MD.

“Lovie is only 3. She loves to walk around town with us on pretty days to look and explore,” Kilgore Lynndee told a local NBC station in an interview this week. “When she saw the mural it startled her for a moment because she wasn’t expecting it.” 

“Then she quickly asked if she could give her a high-five,” she continued. “She reached out and placed her hand on the hand. The response has been tremendous.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was one of hundreds on Twitter who celebrated the photo.

“Such a powerful photo of 3-year-old Lovie Hope Duncan at the Harriet Tubman mural in Cambridge. Can’t wait to visit and see Maryland artist, Michael Rosato’s artwork,” he wrote.

“Now, let’s make sure we also honor this great American hero by putting Tubman’s image on the $20 bill,” Van Hollen added. The senator’s last comment follows a recent announcement from the Trump administration stating that designs for an updated $20 bill featuring Tubman would be delayed by eight years.