Author Archives: Kayla Conti

Black art is front and center this Black History Month

For centuries, Black artists have used their crafts to share their lived experiences with the world. Art as self-expression is not a new concept, but how we display it and share it in today's digital world is. Throughout Black History Month, Google is honoring the creativity and influence of Black artistry by putting it front and center on our products and platforms. 

Doodles galore  

Today, we’re honoring internationally acclaimed poet and civil rights champion Audre Lorde with a slideshow Doodle, illustrated by Los Angeles-based guest artistMonica Ahanonu. The slideshow features a powerful excerpt from Audre Lorde, challenging the misconception that similar identities are a prerequisite to unity. You can also go behind the scenes for a closer look at Audre Lorde’s legacy and explore Monica’s creative process for bringing this inspiring Doodle to life.


We’re also celebrating the Blackstories, voices,music and culture that have contributed to creativity and innovation on YouTube and throughout the world. Every Monday, we’ve featured the artwork of a Black artist on the YouTube homepage to celebrate different aspects of Black creativity, including science, arts, motion and history. Click through to see all the artwork for the month of February:
  • An illustration featuring words like Black History Month, Respect, Create and Power

    Leandro Assis celebrates voices of Black creativity.

  • An illustration of Black women scientists teaching young Black girls about science.

    Keisha Okafor pays tribute to Black creativity in STEM.

  • An illustration featuring Black singers, painters, musicians and other artists

    Marco Cheatham illustrates Black creativity in the arts.

  • An illustration of six people dancing in front of a yellow background.

    Shanée Benjamin cheers Black creativity in motion.

Content collections across Google products

Since 2015, our Black History and Culture hub on Google Arts and Culture presents the collections and stories of more than 80 partners. This year, we celebrate Black creativity on a new  BHM chapter page with six new partners: Soul’s Grown Deep Foundation, The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection, Greenwood Art Project, National Jazz Museum in Harlem and the International African American Museum. We’re also adding new original works by Wisconsin poet laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton and photographer Misan Harriman.


A painting of a woman drinking from a cup.

Courtesy of the Kinsey African American Arts & History Collection, a Google Arts & Culture partner.

You’ll also see Black content front and center on Google Play and Google TV. We’re celebratingBlack creators, culture and history on Google Play, including a collection ofapps by Black innovators and interviews like this one with DeShuna Spencer, founder and CEO of kweliTV. You can also plug into iconic Black films and TV shows as we highlight content collections like “Black Love Stories” and “Revolutionary Black ‘90s Sitcoms” throughout the month on Chromecast with Google TV, or in the Google TV app on Android devices in the United States. 


And on February 26, YouTube Originals will celebrate the “Black Renaissance'' with a special featuring Black creators, artists, writers, storytellers and history makers who have shaped our nation. The special will feature the voices of President Obama, Michelle Obama, Stacey Abrams, Jason Reynolds, H.E.R., Shantell Martin, Bob the Drag Queen, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and more.

Wallpapers for your browser and phone

Starting today, you can customize the look of your Chrome browser using a new collection of themes. We worked with six contemporary Black artists to turn Chrome into their canvas and each artist has presented their interpretation of the ways people use Chrome, from finding new information to connecting with others. You can also add new wallpapers to your phone. Google Pixel has partnered with Melissa Koby, a Jamaican-born, Florida-based illustrator, on an exclusive collection of Google Pixel phone wallpapers paying tribute to Black people around the world who continue to find joy and beauty despite trials. 


Google Pixel has also launched Google Pixel x Black Owned Everything, an exclusive collaboration that spotlights a bespoke collection of products from Black-owned businesses from across the country curated by costume designer Zerina Akers and her company, Black Owned Everything.

  • An illustration of five people in front of a city backdrop.

    On the Hill by Melissa Koby for Google Pixel reminds us that the "Shining City on a Hill" was made such by the people standing at the bottom of the hill, in the sun. They have, despite their trials, found moments of joy and beauty and the strength to persevere.

  • An illustration of seven hands holding flowers up to the sun, in front of a blue sky background

    Give Flowers by Melissa Koby for Google Pixel pays tribute to our ancestors who created a life for themselves in this country. The pursuit of their dreams were kept alive by the hope of brighter days for themselves and their future generations.

  • An illustration of many people walking on a pink background, with one person standing on a yellow circle

    Many One People by Melissa Koby for Google Pixel honors the different paths and walks of life that Black people in America take that shape their existence.

Digital art and storytelling to amplify small businesses 

To help people more easily discover Black-owned brands and products they’ll love, we’ve partnered with mixed-media artist Amani Lewis to create an original piece of fine art integrating products made and sold from Black-owned businesses—a piece of “shoppable artwork.” Brands featured in the artwork include Jungalow, Blk & Bold, Diarrablu, Lonéz Scents, Coloured Raine and 3rd Eye View. You can explore the painting on Google Shopping  and purchase items directly on the merchants’ own sites or through the Shopping tab. We’re also amplifying work by young Black artists such as Briana Peppers, Jade Purple Brown, Pink Lomein and more as they show support for their favorite Black-owned businesses. You can follow along on Twitter to see these specially commissioned works of art as they go live throughout Black History Month, and check out Google for Small Businessto learn more about how you can support Black-owned businesses. 

  • A painting of three people sitting at a table, featuring bright colors and vibrant textures

    Amani Lewis Shoppable Artwork, featuring products by Jungalow, Blk & Bold, Diarrablu, Lonéz Scents, Coloured Raine, and 3rd Eye View.

  • An illustration featuring four Black business owners: A jeweler, a chef, a plant store owner and a yoga instructor.

    Brianna Peppers celebrating and encouraging support of Black-owned businesses.

  • An illustration of a woman wearing sunglasses and a white shirt with the black text Yowie on it, sitting on a chair.

    Jade Purple Brown honoring Yowie, a Black-owned home and lifestyle store based in Philadelphia.

  • An illustration of a Black woman with the phrase "Support Black Businesses" written on her hair.

    Pink Lomein honoring a few of her favorite Black-owned businesses: Ch0ked,People of Color Beauty,Inclusive Randomness,Charm Junkee andCharged Up Jewelry.

Finding community through technology 

In addition to showcasing Black artists across our products and platforms, we also want to help raise awareness to some of the challenges Black artists face in their day to day lives. Tune into this featured interview with Jillian Mercado, founder of Black Disabled Creatives, and Brent Lewis, co-founder of Diversify Photo, as they discuss the adversities of Black and disabled Black artists. They also discuss how they used Google tools to build a public database of artists and innovators who are often overlooked because of their identities and lack of access to opportunities. Black artistry continues to influence every aspect of American culture, and we hope you’ll join us in amplifying these powerful voices. 

The High Five: gathering around the table and in the stands

Whether celebrating Easter or Passover with friends and family, or cheering on your favorite team, there’s a lot to look forward to this weekend. Here’s a look at some of the top searches from this week, with data from Google News Lab.

Cracking open Easter trends

This weekend, families across the country will gather to celebrate Easter and the beginning of Passover. As this week’s trends show, nothing brings people together like food. Scalloped potatoes and pie top the most-searched recipes for Easter Sunday, and some people are planning for Mass on Saturday: “How long is Easter Vigil Mass?” was one of the top trending Easter-related queries. People are also getting crafty at home in preparation for egg hunts, asking: “how to boil eggs for Easter?”

As for Passover preparations, charoset and brisket were the most popular “Passover Seder recipes,” while search interest in “passover greetings in English” went up 450 percent. Chag sameach!

Taking it to the hole

The NCAA Final Four games are upon us, and Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Michigan and Indiana are the top states searching for “March Madness.” Meanwhile in Illinois, Loyola-Chicago isn’t the only breakout star of the tournament—search interest in their holy good luck charm Sister Jean rose over 1,000 percent this week. People are even wondering “what did Sister Jean give up for Lent?”

Call it a comeback

Search interest in Roseanne Barr spiked over 300 percent on Tuesday, as the 2018 reboot of the popular television series premiered on ABC. Top questions about the show included “who is Jerry on Roseanne?” and “how many people watched Roseanne?” (somewhere in the ballpark of 18 million viewers).

Snap, crackle, pop

“Why are my knuckles cracking?” was a trending question this week. And it was answered by researchers in the U.S. and France who found out it’s caused by tiny bubbles collapsing in the fluid of the joint as the pressure changes. It looks like the three M’s—Minnesota, Michigan and Maryland—are among the top regions searching for “knuckles cracking.” Attempt at your own risk.

Swing batter, batter, swing

Just in time for Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, search interest in “top MLB  prospects for 2018” spiked over 400 percent this week. Top trending teams included the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, and Scott Kingery, Salvador Pérez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounded the bases as some of the top trending players.

The High Five: Springing for search trends

Springtime means new beginnings, and that seems to be the case for Ringo Starr and Cynthia Nixon who made their foray into knighthood and state politics this week. But they’re not the only ones who captured people’s attention in Search this week. Here’s a look at the top trends, thanks to data from Google News Lab.


Finding answers in Austin

The question on many people’s minds—“who was the Austin bomber?”—was answered early Wednesday morning when law enforcement identified Mark Conditt as the man behind the string of exploding  packages. San Antonio, Waco-Temple-Bryan, Victoria and San Angelo were among the top metros looking for more information on the Austin bomber.


It’s finally spring...kinda

“Is today the first day of spring?” was the top trending question across the east coast this week as residents braced for a not-so-warm welcome to the new season. Storm Toby brought a wintery mix of snow, sleet and gusty winds on Wednesday and had people in DC, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts searching for information on flight cancellations. Spring officially sprung on Tuesday, in case you didn’t know!


Starry Knight

“Don’t pass me by”—Sir Richard “Ringo Starr” Starkey is the latest member of the Beatles to be knighted. Prince William performed the ceremony on Tuesday, 21 years after the other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Despite search interest in “Ringo Starr” spiking 400+ percent higher than “Paul McCartney,” John Lennon was the most searched band member of the week. It’s a battle of the Beatles!


Politics in the City

Miranda Hobbes fans unite: Cynthia Nixon is running for Governor of New York. Best known for her role in the hit HBO series “Sex in the City,” Nixon is taking her talents off screen and into the ballot box. She’ll challenge current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for the seat—and is already off to the races, with search interest in “Cynthia Nixon” spiking over 1,300 percent of “Andrew Cuomo” on Monday. Guess Carrie Bradshaw isn’t the only leading lady in town!


The boy with the phoenix tattoo

Elephants, flowers, lions and butterflies were among the most searched tattoo designs this week, but it’s Ben Affleck’s colorful ink that has everyone talking. The actor was caught showing off his back tattoo while on a beach in Hawaii. Fans and tattoo artists alike have their opinions about the massive phoenix rising from the ashes, so much so that search interest “Ben Affleck tattoo” was more than 1,200 percent higher than interest in “Ben Affleck movie.” But the top trending question remains, “is Ben Affleck’s tattoo real?” Dun, dun, dun.