Every holiday, Google.com selects an artist to commemorate the day of observance with a scaled-down work of art called a Google Doodle.
For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2018, Google commissioned Cannaday Chapman to pay tribute to the late civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and Nobel Laureate who dedicated his life working tirelessly for peace and social justice in America.
From Saptosa Foster:
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor Dr. King. It was federally observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, and over 30 years later, the day is traditionally celebrated as a day of service, with people volunteering time and talent to help others, thus paying homage to Dr. King’s legacy.
Today’s Doogle by guest artist Canada Chapman was also developed in collaboration with the Black Googlers Network (BGN), one of the largest employee resource groups at Google. The image depicts a young girl perched on her father’s shoulders, enthralled by the power and eloquence of Dr. King’s words. The scene is evocative of Dr. King’s dream for children everywhere to one day live in a better world.
Cannaday shares his thoughts on today’s Doodle below:
Q: What does MLK and MLK day mean to you personally?
A: Martin Luther King Jr.’s message is especially relevant today and will be relevant for the remainder of civilization. Dr. King is most remembered for fighting for the rights of African Americans, but he fought for the rights of all Americans. He believed in fairness and equity for everyone. As a black man, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today if it wasn’t for him and the brave people of the civil rights movement.
Read the full blog post here:
Saptosa Foster
Managing Partner
One35Agency.com
