Google doodles

[9A]

Feb 01, 2018

Celebrating Carter G. Woodson




Today’s Doodle by Virginia-based illustrator Shannon Wright and developed in collaboration with the Black Googlers Network [one of the largest employee resource groups at Google], marks the beginning of Black History Month by celebrating Carter G. Woodson - the man often called the “Father of Black History.” Woodson’s legacy inspired me to become an African American Studies major in college, and I am honored to kick off Google’s celebration this month by highlighting the life of this great American scholar.

Woodson was born in 1875 in New Canton, Virginia, to former slaves Anne Eliza and James Henry Woodson. His parents never had the opportunity to learn to read and write, but he had an appetite for education from the very beginning. As a young man, he helped support his family through farming and working as a miner, which meant that most of his education came via self-instruction. He eventually entered high school at the age of 20 and earned his diploma in less than two years!

Woodson went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, after which he became the second African-American ever to receive a doctorate from Harvard University. He was also one of the first scholars to focus on the study of African-American history, writing over a dozen books on the topic over the years.

In addition to studying it himself, Woodson was committed to bringing African-American history front and center and ensuring it was taught in schools and studied by other scholars. He devised a program to encourage this study, which began in February of 1926 as a weeklong event. Woodson chose February for this celebration to commemorate the birth months of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln. This program eventually expanded to become what we now today as Black History Month.


Woodson’s commitment to achieve an education for himself and spread awareness and pride in Black history inspired me and continues to do so in so many ways. As a black woman from an underserved, underperforming public school in Richmond, California, many in my community didn’t expect me to achieve much beyond the four corners of my neighborhood. When I voiced my ambition to go to Harvard, I was told by teachers, guidance counselors, and even some family members that “people like me” didn’t go to schools like that. Fortunately, my parents believed in me and supported ambitions beyond their vision and experience. That support, along with the inspiration of great American leaders like Woodson, gave me the confidence to follow my dreams and achieve more than I’ve ever imagined.

This Black History Month, I encourage others to learn more about the incredible legacy, contribution, and journey of black people in the United States. I also hope they will be inspired by the example of Carter G. Woodson and challenge themselves to push beyond any perceived limitations to achieve a goal they may think is just out of reach.

[9A]

Jun 27, 2023

Celebrating Martin Dibobe



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist Helene Baum-Owoyele, celebrates Cameroonian train driver Martin Dibobe. On this day in 1919, Dibobe and 17 other African people petitioned the German government for independence and civil rights for all people in Germany’s colonial empire.

Dibobe was born in 1876 in Cameroon, which became a German colony in 1884. The son of a Douala chief, he learned to read and write in a missionary school. In his youth, the German government ordered Dibobe and many other Africans in Berlin to join an ethnographic display designed to teach Germans about daily life in Africa and gather support for colonialism. In 1886, Dibobe and one hundred other Africans were shipped to Berlin on a steamboat.

For six months, Dibobe lived under terrible conditions and appeared as an “exhibit” of African life in Berlin’s Treptower Park. Afterward, he stayed in Germany and worked as a locksmith in a local factory before falling in love with a German woman. Although the registry office refused to document their union, they later married with the support of a clergyman.

Dibobe then earned a job at the Berlin subway system and worked his way up to become the first Black train driver in the city. Unsatisfied with his social mobility, he advocated for African rights across the empire. It’s believed that the German government sent Dibobe back to Cameroon to help build a new railway line around 1907. During this time, he shared his views on equal rights with chiefs in his native country.

After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Germany ceded its colonies to France and Britain. Dibobe rallied fellow advocates to appeal to Germany’s National Assembly. The Dibobe petition included 32 demands supporting equal rights for the country’s African migrants, but it was ignored by the government.

Cameroon fell under French rule and when Dibobe tried to return in 1922, they denied his entry. He then traveled to Liberia where he most likely died. Today, a plaque commemorates Martin Dibobe’s efforts at his old address in Berlin. In the face of blatant racism, Dibobe always championed African rights and paved the way for future activists.

Thanks, Martin Dibobe for serving as a role model for future advocates of Black independence.

[9A]

Oct 18, 2023

Violet King Henry's 94th Birthday


Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Shanti Rittgers, celebrates the birth of Violet King Henry, Canada's first Black female lawyer. A trailblazer in the legal industry, and a leader in ​​her community, King continues to be a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity.

King was born on this day in 1929, in Calgary, Alberta. She was a well-rounded student who achieved good grades and participated in several extracurriculars. Her high school senior yearbook caption proudly stated her intentions to pursue a career in law. In 1950, she attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Law. King excelled in her classes, taught piano lessons, and was vice president of a feminist group — the Blue Stocking Club and the Students’ Union. She earned an executive “A” gold ring for her many contributions to the university in 1952.

King graduated in 1953, becoming the first Black graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law and the first Black Canadian in the province to earn a law degree. She articled [or interned] at a Calgary law firm, and worked on five high-profile criminal trials in her first year. King was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1954, which added another “first” to her list — becoming the first Black woman in Canada to practice law.

She spent a few years in Alberta as a lawyer before moving to Ottawa, where she joined Canada’s federal Citizenship and Immigration department. In this role, King met with leaders of community organizations and helped new immigrants find work and settle in Canada. After seven years, she moved to the U.S. and worked as the Executive Director of the Newark, New Jersey YMCA’s Community Branch, where she helped Black applicants find employment for six years before moving to Chicago to work at the YMCA’s national headquarters. While in Chicago King eventually became the first woman of any race, and the first Black person of any gender, to hold an executive position in the U.S. National Council of YMCA’s Organizational Development Group [which functioned as the managing Board of the YMCAs].

In 1998, she was inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame for her work promoting the rights of women and minority groups. The Government of Alberta named a plaza in Edmonton after her in 2021, and the newly established Violet King Henry Law School Award is given to an outstanding Black law student at the University of Alberta annually. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Law School also presents an annual award to a committed civil rights advocate student, and the Black Law Student Association of Canada now holds a “Women of Excellence in Law” luncheon in her honor at their annual national conference.

King once noted in a speech given soon after being called to the Canadian BAR that some people discouraged her from pursuing a law career. She said “People told me it wasn’t a good idea for a girl to be a lawyer, particularly a coloured girl… so I went ahead.” - Violet King, May 5, 1956. And in “going ahead” she proved them wrong by breaking glass ceilings and inspiring women of colour everywhere to pursue their dreams, even when met with resistance.

Happy birthday, Violet King Henry, thank you for breaking down gender and racial barriers throughout your impressive career!

[9A]

Feb 02, 2000

Groundhog's Day 2000




Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.

While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

The weather lore was brought from German-speaking areas where the badger is the forecasting animal. It is related to the lore that clear weather on the Christian festival of Candlemas forebodes a prolonged winter.

The Groundhog Day ceremony held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering on a semi-mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most frequently attended ceremony. Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state observe the occasion as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada also have adopted the event.

[9A]

Feb 02, 2024

José Guadalupe Posada's 172nd Birthday





This Doodle celebrates Mexican artist and lithographer José Guadalupe Posada, who is widely considered one of Mexico's most influential graphic artists.

Posada spent his childhood working on farms and in pottery factories. After showing promise as an artist, Posada enrolled in La Academia Municipal de Dibujo de Aguascalientes [the Municipal Drawing Academy of Aguascalientes]. In 1968, he began an apprenticeship where he learned lithography and engraving.

Three years later, a local newspaper in Aguascalientes hired Posada as a political cartoonist. Although it only ran for 11 issues, Posada loved the opportunity to share his work with a wider audience. He then opened his own lithography workshop and taught at a secondary school.

In 1876, Posada bought a printing press and started to collaborate on several newspapers. During this time he made iconic lithographs, such as depictions of the great flood of León. Posada also became well known for his animated skeletons, which were used to make political and social critiques. Some works like La Calavera Catrina are still popular today due to their association with Día de los Muertos. Today’s Doodle artwork was inspired by his skeletons.

His hometown of Aguascalientes built a museum dedicated to his work. Posada’s visions were ahead of his time, and he etched the origins of graphic design into art history.

Happy Birthday, Jose Guadalupe Posada!

[9A]

Oct 11, 2022

João do Vale's 88th Birthday




Vale was an Afro-Brazilian singer and composer who introduced northeastern music styles to communities across Brazil. Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been João do Vale’s 88th birthday. He's remembered as a key figure in Brazil's music scene.


Vale was born in Pedreiras, Maranhão, in 1934. At a young age, he faced prejudice when he was expelled from school in order to make room for a higher-class student which made a significant impact on how he viewed the world and would later serve as a major influence in his work. He then had to turn to selling oranges at fairs to help support his family.

At 13, Vale was writing songs for a Brazilian musical group. They put on plays called Bumba-Meu-Boi, which portrayed the Maranhão culture through drama, dance, and lyrics. While it helped kickstart his lyrical passion, his involvement with the group didn’t provide enough money to elevate his family’s financial situation.

Vale left home to escape the injustice he faced in Pedreiras. He traveled to Rio de Janeiro and took up manual labor jobs like coal mining, bricklaying and construction work. In between jobs, he visited other major cities to share his melodies and poetry. Influenced by personal experiences and northeastern music genres like baião, Vale wrote songs about poverty and folk culture.

In the early 1950s, Vale get an opportunity to showcase his creation of upbeat dance rhythms at the Radio Nacional station— a radio station that influenced music tastes throughout Brazil. Since he did not know how to write, João had to commit all of his work to memory in order to present his pieces. His impressive baiãos caught the attention of the hosts and producers working there and his musical career took off! He began to work with artists who were excited to help him grow his compositions and songwriting skills.

By 1964, Vale was performing in showrooms that highlighted northeastern rhythms to working class people in southern Brazil. He wrote several musical hits​​, created two solo albums and composed songs that popularized many great names within the industry. He continued to create and share music rooted in his culture until his death in 1996.

A theater is dedicated to him in the Historic Center of São Luís and he’s honored in his hometown of Pedreiras with a memorial.

Happy 88th birthday, João do Vale!

[9A]

Aug 24, 2022

Ukraine Independence Day 2022




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kharkiv-based artist Olga Shtonda, honors Independence Day in Ukraine. On this day in 1991, Ukrainian politicians signed the Act of Declaration of Independence and displayed their national flag within the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada building, signaling its freedom from the Soviet Union. The national holiday remembers all who’ve given their lives for their country, including those still fighting to this day.

On December 1, 1991, a national referendum saw a resounding 92% of citizens vote in favor of independence. Over 31 years of freedom, the country has achieved several social, economic and political milestones. The blue and yellow national flag represents Ukraine’s vast sky, beautiful streams and golden wheat fields. These bright colors inspire its citizens to remember they are a freedom-loving, brave, vibrant and united people. Today’s Doodle artwork represents the national symbols of Ukraine, featuring a trident often interpreted as a falcon and the country’s coat of arms.

This year’s Independence Day holds particular significance as Ukraine continues its struggle against the ongoing Russian invasion

[9A]

Dec 10, 2021

Celebrating Lionel Rose




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Sydney, Australia-based guest artist Mark Munk Ross, celebrates Indigenous Australian world champion bantamweight boxer Lionel Rose. As the first Indigenous Australian to win a world championship sports title, Rose was inducted into the Sport Australian Hall of Fame on this day in 1985.

Lionel Edmund Rose was born on June 21, 1948, into poverty in the Indigenous Australian settlement of Jackson’s Track, where he faced intense discrimination. He idolized his father, a two-time Australian lightweight champion who trained Rose using only rags as gloves. At just 15, he won his first amateur flyweight title, and by 1964, Rose went pro.

Following a triumphant 15-round decision victory in Tokyo over Japanese champion Masahiko “Fighting” Harada, Rose made history in 1968 as the second Australian teenager and first Indigenous Australian fighter to win a world title. He quickly became renowned for his lightning-fast reflexes and tenacious counter-punches and returned home from Japan to an estimated 250,000 people in the streets of Melbourne celebrating his success—the largest welcome home to date in Australian sports. Rose was also a skilled singer and guitar player, even recording a chart-topping country album after meeting the “King of Rock and Roll” himself, Elvis Presley.

In 1968, Rose became the first Indigenous Australian person honored as Australian of the Year. He successfully defended his title in three consecutive matches until he relinquished the belt in 1969. Remembered as a generous and humble leader, he retired in 1976 as a national hero and one of the greatest Australian athletes of all time.

Thank you for fighting for future generations of Indigenous Australian athletes, Lionel Rose!

[9A]

Dec 08, 2022

Manuel Ponce Cuéllar's 139th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates the 139th birthday of Mexican musical pioneer, Manuel Ponce Cuéllar, and was illustrated by Mexico City-based guest artist César Canseco. Ponce was the earliest Mexican classical music composer to gain international recognition and a maestro on the guitar. Although European music heavily influenced his work, he added a Mexican touch to his compositions.

Ponce was born in Fresnillo on this day in 1882. He discovered his talent at an early age and started performing piano when he was just 6 years old. At age 9, he wrote his first composition, “La Marcha del Sarampion” [March of the Measles], while sick with the disease.

When he was 21, Ponce joined the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Mexico City but left after realizing his skills were too advanced. He traveled to Europe a year later to study composition and piano. While in Germany, his fellow students encouraged him to incorporate Mexican folk elements into his music—which birthed his original style.

In 1912, he returned to Mexico City to teach at the Conservatorio Nacional and composed his most famous work, “Estrellita.” He studied music in Paris at the École Normale de Musique in 1925 and wrote several compositions for the guitar, inspiring other Mexican composers to follow suit. These two feats put him on the map as one of Mexico’s most esteemed composers and classical guitar players.

He wrote more than 300 compositions but was more than a composer and musician. Ponce was also a teacher, lecturer, music critic and conductor. He also penned over 200 essays as the founder and editor of 3 music journals: Revista Musical de México, Gaceta Musical and Cultura Musical. His styles ranged from baroque to impressionist, classical to romantic–all with a distinct Mexican folk touch.

Ponce was awarded the Premio Nacional de Artes y Ciencias [the National Prize of Arts and Sciences] in 1947. When he passed away the following year, he was buried in the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres [Roundhouse of the Illustrious Men] of the Panteón de Dolores, a site that honors those who made a significant contribution to Mexican society.

[9A]

Oct 28, 2022

Celebrating Haja El Hamdaouia




Today’s Doodle celebrates Moroccan singer and cultural icon Haja El Hamdaouia. The star of Moroccan chaabi music influenced multiple generations of artists with her innovative style.

Haja was born in 1930 in Casablanca, Morocco. Her father loved musicians and often hosted music troupes at their home. This inspired Haja to take theater classes where she learned how to sing and perform chaabi music, a genre that fuses urban and rural Moroccan folk music.

In the early 1950s, she developed an interest in El Aita al Marsaouiya, a sub-genre of chaabi music characterized by poetic lyrics and blues-like melodies. Haja breathed new life into the genre. With her piercing and powerful voice, Haja sang about everything from national independence to daily life.

She wasn't afraid to push boundaries as seen in 1959 when Haja had the idea to sing in front of a makeshift orchestra. She performed at cabaret venues in Casablanca neighborhoods backed by a saxophone, organ, guitar, drums and violin. During this time, she created some of her most popular songs like “Daba Yij” and “Jiti Majiti", which took on the subjects of femininity and love.

Haja continued to create and perform music for over 60 years. She headlined at festivals in Essaouira and Oujda until the late 2000s. Find her music on streaming platforms and in music stores around the world. Thank you, Haja El Hamdaouia, for singing your heart out time and time again.

[9A]

11 October 2022

Celebrating Tito Puente!



In honor of U.S. Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the life and legacy of American “Nuyorican” musician and internationally-renowned entertainer, Tito Puente. Today’s animated video Doodle is illustrated by New York-based Puerto Rican artist, Carlos Aponte. A multi-talented artist of Puerto Rican descent, Puente was a percussionist, composer, songwriter, recording artist, and bandleader. With a career spanning five decades, he is often referred to as “El Rey de los Timbales” and “The King of Latin music.” On this day in 2021, the Tito Puente Monument was unveiled in East Harlem, New York City.

Puente was born on April 20, 1923 at Harlem Hospital Center in New York City’s Spanish Harlem. He was surrounded by Puerto Rican, Cuban, and big band music growing up, and showed significant musical talent from an early age. He started his career as a drummer in his early teens and found his big break playing for Federico Pagani’s Happy Boys and Machito’s Orchestra. He served in the Navy during World War II, playing alto saxophone as the ship’s bandleader—along with over ten other instruments. He continued his studies at the Juilliard School of Music after the war.

He started his own band, the Tito Puente Orchestra, in 1948 and quickly earned a reputation for his performances that encouraged audiences to get on the dance floor. Puente was known for his awe-inspiring skills on the timbales [or timpani/kettledrums], as well as for the way he combined big band instrumentation and jazz harmonies with Afro-Cuban music. He recorded an astounding 118+ albums and is credited on dozens more—more than any other timbales bandleader to date. This journey began with Ran Kan Kan, his first professional track recording and the soundtrack of today’s Doodle.

Beyond the mambo movement, Puente experimented across other genres of Latin music such as the Boogaloo, Pachanga, and eventually Salsa. He was considered a musical pioneer for his creativity and experimentation, and is widely credited for popularizing Latin music in the United States. In 1969, he was awarded the key to New York City.

Besides the musical merits he received throughout his career, Puente was also deeply dedicated to creating opportunities for the Latin community. In 1979, he introduced a scholarship fund that supported promising, young Latin percussionists for over 20 years.

Puente’s success, presence, and musicality is widely known and respected to this day. After his passing, many waited in line for days to say their goodbyes. He was posthumously recognized at the first-ever Latin Grammy Awards, and the Harlem street where he grew up — E. 110th Street — was renamed Tito Puente Way to honor his life and legacy.

“...Goza con los timbales…” Here's to you, Tito!

[9A]

11 October 2019

Maria Firmina dos Reis’ 194th Birthday





“It is horrible to remember that human creatures treat their fellow men like this,” wrote Brazilian author and educator Maria Firmina dos Reis in her 1859 abolitionist novel, Úrsula. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Porto Alegre and Berlin-based guest-artist Nik Neves, celebrates the life and work of a black woman who boldly spoke out against slavery at a time when few others would dare.

Born on the island of São Luís in Maranhão on this day in 1825, not long after Brazil declared independence from Portugal, Maria was the daughter of a black slave and a Brazilian woman. She grew up to become her nation’s first novelist.

Growing up in her aunt’s house on the mainland, Maria was raised by her mother and grandmother, attaining much of her education at home. Her cousin Sotero dos Reis became a famous writer and teacher, and Maria began teaching primary school at age 22. She eventually founded the country’s first free and mixed school, a radical concept before the passage of the 1888 “Golden Law” ending slavery in Brazil.

Maria published poetry, essays, stories, and puzzles in local newspapers and journals, as well as composing abolitionist songs. Published under the name Uma Maranhense [“a Maranhão woman”], Úrsula depicted slaves as human beings longing for freedom and exposed the evils of those who profited from the slave trade. Now recognized as the first Afro-Brazilian novel, the pseudonymous work fell into obscurity before being revived in the 1960s. Úrsula has since been reprinted, inspiring a new appreciation for this pioneering thinker and activist.

[9A]

23 Nov 2018

Mestre Bimba’s 119th Birthday



A blend of martial arts, acrobatics, dance, and music, Capoeira has been practiced in Brazil for hundreds of years. Today’s Doodle celebrates Manuel dos Reis Machado, or Mestre Bimba, the master who legitimized capoeira and founded the world’s first school to promote this Afro-Brazilian martial arts style.

Mestre Bimba was born in Salvador, the capital of Bahia, on this day in 1899 as the youngest of 25 children and son of a batuque champion, another Brazilian fighting game. His parents named him Manuel dos Reis Machado, but everyone called him Bimba. He worked various odd jobs – longshoreman, carpenter, and coal miner – before dedicating his life to his real passion of capoeira.

Developed by former slaves, Capoeira was outlawed by the Brazilian government for many years. “In those days, when capoeira was spoken of, it was in whispers,” Bimba recalled. “Those who learned capoeira only thought about becoming criminals.”

As studying martial arts was forbidden by law, music was added to disguise the powerful fighting techniques as dance moves. Developing his own style, known as capoeira regional, Mestre Bimba instituted a strict set of rules and a dress code. In 1928 he was invited to demonstrate his style of capoeira for Getulio Vargas, then president of Brazil. The President was so impressed that he gave Mestre Bimba the go-ahead to open the first capoeira school in his hometown of Salvador, giving this unique martial art a new sense of legitimacy. In 2014 capoeira was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, which hailed it as one of the most expressive popular manifestations of the Brazilian culture.

[9A]

1 February 2017

Celebrating Edmonia Lewis





Edmonia Lewis wasn’t afraid to reshape convention. As the first woman of African American and Native American heritage to achieve international fame as a sculptor, Lewis is known for incorporating African American and Native American cultural themes into her Neoclassical style sculpture.

Born in New York in 1844 to a father of Afro-Haitian descent and a mother of Mississauga Ojibwe and African American descent, Lewis was adopted by her maternal aunts after her parents’ death when she was nine years old. At age 15, Lewis enrolled in Oberlin College, which is where she became passionate about art. Unfortunately however, her time at Oberlin was fraught with discrimination by many of her peers and the surrounding community. It was due to this that she was prevented from enrolling in her final term, and therefore was unable to receive her degree.

After her time at Oberlin, Lewis moved to Boston in 1864 to pursue a career as a sculptor. She was consistently denied apprenticeship until she met Edward A. Brackett, a sculptor whose clients included some of the most well-known abolitionists of the time. Lewis worked under Brackett until 1864, when she launched her first solo exhibition. Her work paid homage to the abolitionists and Civil War heroes of her day, including John Brown and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Her work was very well received and with her success, she traveled to Rome, Italy.

In Rome, Lewis joined a circle of expat artists and established her own studio. During this time, Lewis began sculpting in marble, focusing on naturalism and themes relating to African American and Native American people. Her work commanded large sums of money, and she continued to receive international acclaim until her death in 1911.

Today’s Doodle art depicts Lewis sculpting one of her most famous works, The Death of Cleopatra, which is on display at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Her realistic portrayal of Cleopatra’s death received acclaim from critics, who called it “the most remarkable piece of sculpture in the American section" of the show. The vibrant colors of the Google letters also pay tribute to Lewis’s Native American roots - her Native American name was Wildfire.

Decades later, Lewis’s legacy continues to thrive through her art and the path she helped forge for women and artists of color. Today, we celebrate her and what she stands for – self-expression through art, even in the face of adversity.

Doodle by Sophie Diao

[9A]

May 19, 2022

Stacey Park Milbern's 35th Birthday






Stacey Park Milbern was a queer, Korean-American disability justice activist, who co-founded the disability justice movement and dedicated her life to advocating for marginalized communities. In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, today’s Doodle—illustrated by San Francisco, CA-based guest artist, Art Twink—celebrates Stacey Park Milbern’s legacy on what would be her 35th birthday.

Milbern was born in 1987 in Seoul, South Korea. She grew up in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and began her service as a leader for disability justice at the age of 16. After noticing a lack of advocacy for disabled LGBTQ+ and people of color, she teamed up with other activists in 2005 to coin disability justice—a framework dedicated to ensuring the perspectives of traditionally marginalized groups within the disabled community weren’t left out of the fight for disability rights.

At the age of 24, Milbern moved to the Bay Area, California, where she worked tirelessly to organize, write, and speak for the movement, and became Director of Programs at the Center of Independent Living. In 2014, Milbern was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and served as an advisor to the national administration.

“I want to leave a legacy of disabled people knowing we are powerful and beautiful because of who we are, not despite of it." - Stacey Park Milbern

Fro advocating for national legislation to building community through the Disability Justice Culture Club—Stacey Milbern always dreamed big and lived up to her values. Happy 35th birthday, Stacey Park Milbern.

[9A]

Aug 24, 2023

Ukraine Independence Day 2023



Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kyiv-based guest artist Polina Doroshenko, honors Ukraine Independence Day 2023. This national holiday honors the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people, and remembers all who’ve given their lives for their country — including those still fighting now. On this day in 1991, Ukraine gained its independence and joined the world stage as a sovereign nation.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian people voted 92% in favor of independence in a referendum for the Act of Declaration of Independence in December 1991. Since then, Ukraine has continued to build up a democratic state that values freedom and integrity. The nation has also made several notable global contributions to space exploration, medicine, art, music, technology, and more.

Ukraine’s blue-and-yellow national flag, like the colors represented in today’s artwork, symbolizes the open sky above its endless wheat fields seen throughout the country. Beyond that, it also represents the people’s unbreakable spirit, devotion to the land, and love for freedom. The Doodle artwork depicts a parade representing all Ukrainians showing their pride and confidence, moving into the future. This year’s Independence Day holds particular significance as the country continues its struggle against the ongoing Russian invasion.

[9A]

Aug 10, 2023

Margit Nordin's 126th Birthday




Today’s Doodle celebrates Swedish cross-country skier, physiotherapist, and gymnastics teacher Margit Nordin. On this day in 1897, she was born in Karlstad, Sweden.

Nordin worked as a physiotherapist in Grängesberg and walked or skied a few miles daily to see her patients. As a result of all the travel, she was in great physical shape and decided to put her fitness level to the test.

She signed up for the second annual Vasaloppet, now the world's biggest cross-country ski race, simply because she wanted to find out if she could ski the 90 km. Early 1900’s sports journalists weren’t thrilled when they heard a woman had registered, but there was no rule against it. The grueling race was considered a test of manhood, and they didn't anticipate that a woman would want to join.

Reluctantly, the race officials allowed Nordin to compete. On the morning of March 4, 1923, Nordin lined up alongside 160 men in Sälen and began the long race. Ten hours and nine minutes later, she crossed the finish line grinning and received roaring applause and cheers. The other racers and many sports commentators were angry that Nordin got the loudest cheers despite finishing last. The Vasaloppet organization banned women from participating just eight days after Nordin’s race, claiming that athletic challenges like this are too hard on women’s bodies.

Nordin never raced again, but continued skiing the beautiful Alps on her own and later opened a guesthouse near Bonn, Germany. Fellow female athletes have since been inspired by her bold venture into a sport that wasn’t yet inclusive to women.

During the years that women weren’t welcome in the Vasaloppet, some snuck onto the course or used a fake name and donned a beard or mustache. And after 58 years, in 1981, women were once again allowed to participate. Recently, some women skiers created an initiative, Vasan för Margit, to encourage more women to ride the Vasaloppet. Several racers wear the number Nordin wore, 103, during their race to remember and pay tribute to the first woman that completed it.

Happy brrrrrrthday, Margit Nordin!

[9A]

May 13, 2022

Manfredo Fest's 86th Birthday




Manfredo Fest was a blind jazz pianist and bandleader who helped create the Brazilian bossa nova movement. Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the musician’s 86th Birthday.

Fest was born in Brazil to parents who immigrated from Germany in the 1920s. He began studying classical music at age five with his father, the chairman of the music department at the University of Porto Alegre. Legally blind since birth, Fest learned to read music in Braille and play the piano, keyboards and saxophone. He developed a strong interest in jazz during college, graduating with a degree in music from the University of Rio Grande do Sul.

He spent his early musical career playing in bars and clubs around São Paulo and took part in Brazil’s emergent bossa nova movement, a style of music where samba is fused with jazz. In 1963, Fest composed and recorded his first album, Bossa Nova, Nova Bossa. A few years later, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and toured the United States as an arranger and keyboard player with fellow countryman Sergio Mendes’ Brazil ’66 band. Fest went on to work with a variety of noteworthy musical groups, including the Flecktones

Fest released 19 albums over the course of his career, experimenting with combinations of both Brazilian and American styles. Fest’s music—including the 1976 jazz funk gem, Brazilian Dorian Dream—are still performed by jazz musicians and groups around the world.

Happy birthday to an innovative musician, composer and who filled our lives with all that jazz.

[9A]

September 1, 2020

Celebrating Jackie Ormes






Today’s slideshow Doodle, illustrated by Philadelphia-based guest artist Liz Montague, celebrates American cartoonist and activist Jackie Ormes. Ormes was known for her satirical and stylish cartoons and comic strips that challenged the derogatory portrayals of Black female characters prevalent in the media. She is widely recognized as the first and only Black female newspaper cartoonist of her time in the United States. On this day in 1945, her groundbreaking single panel “Patty-Jo ’n’ Ginger” debuted in the Pittsburgh Courier, introducing the world to the smart and fashionable Ginger and her precocious 6-year-old sister Patty-Jo. Each slide of today’s Doodle provides a glimpse into stages of Ormes’ life, from her beginnings as a self-taught artist to a powerhouse cartoonist and humorist whose work continues to inspire.

Jackie Ormes was born Zelda Mavin Jackson on August 1, 1911, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She taught herself to draw at an early age and showcased her skills with a page of cartoons in her high school yearbook. After graduation, she entered the media landscape as a proofreader and freelance reporter for the nationally circulated Black newspaper the Pittsburgh Courier.

In 1937, the Courier published Ormes’ first comic strip: “Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem,” which at times reflected the more serious struggles of real people migrating from the South to the North to escape racism and find better opportunities. Ormes’ trailblazing career continued with “Candy” and “Patty-Jo ’n’ Ginger”—her longest-running work–and her final comic, “Torchy in Heartbeats.”

Across all of her work, Ormes’s heroines faced real-life issues like romantic heartbreak, environmental justice, and gender inequality, mirroring the issues Ormes encountered in her own life and those around her. Her characters were all independent women—confident, intelligent, attractive, and brave, who persevered against adversity to reach their next adventure.

Ormes furthered positive depictions of Black women and girls while also expressing her talent for fashion design through the development of several dolls related to her characters. In 1949 she made history by designing one of the first high quality American Black dolls “Patty-Jo,” complete with an extensive wardrobe produced by the Terri Lee Doll company.Later, her 1950 debut of a new, full color comic strip featuring her character Torchy, came with an accompanying paper doll topper, “Torchy Togs.” This bonus feature promoted a positive depiction of Black women while advising them on such fashion tenets as fabric, cut, and seasonal trends.

A pioneering professional woman in a male-dominated cartooning industry, Ormes retired in 1956 but continued her commitment to advocacy and community leadership throughout the rest of her life. In recognition of her achievements, Ormes was posthumously inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame in 2014 as well as the Will Eisner Comic Industry Hall of Fame in 2018.

Thank you, Jackie Ormes, for helping to strip away negative stereotypes one panel at a time.

[9A]

Oct 21, 2017

Nain Singh Rawat’s 187th Birthday





For much of the 19th century, Europe played the Great Game. Explorers vied with each other to map the geographical vastness of Central Asia and understand its people and customs. Knowledge was essential to political success, but Europeans were not welcome everywhere.

A thirst for knowledge and the need for secrecy led to the creation of pandits, a select group of highly educated and brave local men trained in geographical exploration.

Prominent among these was Nain Singh Rawat, the first man to survey Tibet, determining the exact location and altitude of Lhasa, mapping the Tsangpo, and describing in mesmerizing detail fabled sites such as the gold mines of Thok Jalung.

Disguised as a Tibetan monk, he walked from his home region of Kumaon to places as far as Kathmandu, Lhasa, and Tawang. He maintained a precisely measured pace, covering one mile in 2000 steps, and measured those steps using a rosary. He hid a compass in his prayer wheel and mercury in cowrie shells and even disguised travel records as prayers.

Today’s Doodle by Hari & Deepti Panicker is a silhouette diorama illustration, portraying Nain Singh Rawat as he might have looked on his travels — solitary and courageous, looking back over the distances he had walked, rosary beads in hand, and staff by his side. Oh, the wonders he must have seen!

[9A]

Mar 06, 2017

37th Anniversary of Komodo National Park





How much do you know about Komodo dragons?

Today’s Doodle celebrates the 37th anniversary of Komodo National Park with an interactive quiz to test your knowledge about Its main, reptilian inhabitant: the Komodo dragon!

Komodo National Park in Indonesia sits at the center of an archipelago and consists mainly of 3 volcanic islands. The landscape is unlike any other, ranging from dry savanna conditions to lush forests, all surrounded by white-sand beaches and bright blue water.

Although Komodo National Park was created to protect the life of the 5700 Komodo dragons who call it home, the park's scope has now expanded to other native wildlife. In addition to the Timor deer, which is the main source of food for the Komodo dragon, the islands are also the habitat for 72 species of birds, such as the yellow-crested cockatoo. Thousands of fish species swim in the surrounding waters, as well as sea turtles, dolphins, and whales.

Despite the plethora of native wildlife, Komodo dragons are still what the park is best known for. Thanks to National Parks like Komodo, wildlife can continue to thrive largely uninterrupted by human interference.

Here's to the Komodo dragon and Komodo National Park's 37th year!

[9A]

Mar 05, 2015

Gerardus Mercator’s 503rd Birthday




In 1569, cartographer Gerardus Mercator created the first map that portrayed sailing rhumbs as straight lines, a technical trait of great value to navigation. Our doodle in Belgium marks his 503rd birthday.

[9A]

Oct 06, 2014

Thor Heyerdahl's 100th Birthday




What would it take to get you to cross the Pacific Ocean in a handmade wooden raft? It didn’t take a lot of persuading for Norwegian explorer and scientist Thor Heyerdahl to do it—in fact, he did it to prove a point. In 1947, Heyerdahl set off on his Kon-Tiki expedition from Peru to French Polynesia to demonstrate that ancient South Americans could have done the same. The jury is still out on Heyerdahl’s conclusion, but we’re grateful for the remarkable story he left behind. Our doodle around the world marks his 100th birthday.

[9A]

Sep 01, 2016

34th Anniversary of Similan Islands National Park




Today’s Doodle takes you under the stunning waters of Thailand’s Similan Islands. Located northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, the archipelago of 11 islands is famous for its breathtaking dives. Sea turtles, zebra sharks, and blue-spotted stingrays are just a few of the species an underwater adventurer might encounter.

Equally as inviting as the coral reefs are the park’s white sandy beaches. From there, long-tail boats can be spotted navigating the waters against a backdrop of ironwood and gum trees. Also fluttering above sea level, a number of feathered species call the islands home — everything from white-bellied eagles to yellow-browed warblers.

Rich in both wildlife and natural beauty, the Similan Islands were named a national park 34 years ago today. Now it’s time to dive in and celebrate!

[9A]

Feb 06, 2024

Waitangi Day 2024




ThisWaitangi DayDoodle features whānau and friends celebrating at a kapa haka festival.

On this day in 1840, Māori chiefs and British Crown representatives signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi [the Treaty of Waitangi], a founding document that aspired to bring peace to the region. This landmark event shaped the course of New Zealand's history and the Treaty Grounds remain a focal point for annual Waitangi Day commemorations.

At dawn, people of all backgrounds kick off celebrations with a ceremony at Te Whare Rūnanga, a traditional Māori meeting house in Waitangi. A lively celebration of Māori heritage follows at the Waitangi Day Festival, showcasing captivating cultural performances and food stalls filled with traditional delicacies like rēwana [[sweet bread).

For many, the day serves as a unifying force that brings people from all walks of life together. Ngā mihi o te wā.

[9A]

Feb 01, 2024

Alfonso Caso's 128th Birthday




This Doodle celebrates Mexican archeologist and professor Alfonso Caso. He’s best known for excavating the site of Tomb Seven at Monte Albán — one of the richest archeological findings of all time.

After writing books about his findings and methods, Caso returned to the field. He began to focus on the Mixetecs, indigenous people who lived in Mexico. He discovered sites around the country in Yucuita, Yucuñudahui, and Monte Negro. Building upon his previous findings, Caso was ultimately able to decipher Mixtec writings — an astounding achievement in archeology!

Caso served as the Mexican government’s Director of the National Institute for Indian Affairs for 30 years. He was a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophy Society. Given his numerous accomplishments and efforts to inspire students, it’s hard to not dig the guy!

Happy Birthday, Alfonso Caso!

[9A]

Dec 16, 2023

Celebrating Arthur Beetson




This Doodle celebrates Indigenous Australian rugby league captain and coach Arthur Beetson, who is widely considered one of the greatest players in rugby history.

Beetson was born in Roma, Queensland in 1945 which is traditionally known as Gubbi Gubbi Country. His mother, a survivor of the Stolen Generation, was taken from her parents at 11 years old and forced to work as a domestic servant. Fearing that her children would suffer the same fate, she often hid Beetson and his siblings whenever a stranger’s car came close to their home.

Beetson fell in love with football as a child, and at 19, he was recruited to play for the Redcliffe Dolphins. Soon after, Redcliffe won the Brisbane premiership and Beetson was named club player of the year in 1965.

In 1973, when Beetson was appointed captain of the Kangaroos, the Australia National Rugby League team, it was a watershed moment for Indigenous representation: The government had only begun to recognize Indigenous people as Australian citizens six years earlier. Up until then, Indigenous communities were largely excluded from Australian society.

Beetson captained the Kangaroos to victory at the 1975 World Series, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players and leaders in Australian rugby league history. He continued to break new grounds throughout his four-decade career by playing in 14 test matches, four victorious World Club campaigns, 20 interstate matches, and 222 New South Wales Rugby League first-grade games. He also went on to coach for the Eastern Suburbs, Australia, Queensland, the Redcliffe Dolphins, and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. In 2003, Beetson was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame and added to the list of Immortals.

Thank you, Arthur Beetson, for helping level the playing field for Indigenous representation and being a sporting icon for all Australians.

[9A]

Dec 10, 2023

Cássia Eller's 61st Birthday


This Doodle celebrates Brazilian singer and musician Cássia Eller, who is widely considered one of the most influential Latin American rock artists during the 1990s
She who is widely known for her influential rock and música popular Brasileira [MPB] music. She was an openly bisexual artist and is remembered as an authentic, inspiring figure in the LGBTQ+ scene. The Doodle artwork was illustrated by Vila Velha-based guest artist Amanda Lobos.

Eller was extremely interested in music from an early age and picked up the guitar when she was 14. Her music career took off in 1989 after her uncle organized a meeting with a record label — the same one that eventually signed her. At first, she mostly sang covers of artists like Cazuza, Renato Russo, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, and more. Her raspy voice, emotional delivery, and charismatic on-stage presence captured the hearts of many, and it wasn’t long until she became a household name.

Eller’s breakthrough, self-titled album released in 1990, which included hits like Malandragem and O Segundo Sol, was a turning point in her career and gave rise to her stardom. She became more recognized as an icon of the LGBTQ+ community during this time, and performed on underground stages with an electric aura. From there, she went on to record four more studio albums and collaborated with many popular Latin American artists.

Eller was perhaps one of the most noteworthy Brazilian rock musicians during the 1990s, remembered for her originality, intensity, and versatility. In 2013, Rolling Stone ranked her in Brazilian music history best voice and best artist categories. Her songs and voice live on in the hearts of many today.

Happy birthday, Cassia Eller!

[9A]

Dec 06, 2023

Celebrating Ahmed the Elephant




This Doodle honors the giant tusked elephant, Ahmed — the first elephant to be protected under presidential decree in Kenya.

Ahmed the Elephant lived in Kenya’s Marsabit National Reserve. The legendary animal is believed to have had some of the longest and the heaviest tusks in Africa. He was declared a national treasure and remains the only elephant in history to be protected by presidential decree.

Little is known about Ahmed the elephant's early life, but he gained his reputation in the 1960s after being spotted by hikers in the Northern Kenya mountains. Known as “The King Of Marsabit,” spotters claimed Ahmed’s tusks were so large they scraped the ground. The legend took hold across Kenya.

In 1970, Ahmed became the subject of many television projects, including an ABC series and a documentary. His rise in pop culture inspired school children to campaign for Ahmed’s protection from poachers. After they sent letters to Kenya’s first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, he placed Ahmed under his protection by Presidential Decree.

Two security guards watched over him day and night to preserve his life. After Ahmed died of natural causes at age 55, Kenya celebrated his legacy. President Kenyatta ordered taxidermists to preserve Ahmed for future generations at the Nairobi National Museum. He can still be seen there today.

[9A]

Jun 17, 2022

Celebrating Amanda Aldridge




Today’s Doodle celebrates British composer, teacher and opera singer Amanda Aldridge. She released over thirty songs and dozens of instrumental tracks under the pseudonym Montague Ring.On this day in 1911, Amanda Aldridge gave a piano recital at London's pre-war principal concert venue, Queens Small Hall, the original home of the BBC Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras.

Amanda was born the daughter of Ira Aldridge, a Black American Shakespearean actor and Swedish opera singer in 1866, London. Showing her own musical prowess at a young age, Aldridge pursued a career as a vocalist at London’s Royal Conservatory of Music, where she studied under eminent Swedish soprano Jenny Lind. Aldridge’s singing career was soon cut short by a throat injury, but her talents only continued to grow as a vocal teacher, piano player and composer.

Exploring her mixed ethnic heritage through the lens of music, Aldridge combined various rhythmic influences and genres together with poetry from Black American authors to create romantic Parlour music, a popular genre performed in the livingrooms of middle-class homes. Aldridge’s 1913 piano composition “Three African Dances,” inspired by West African drumming, became her most famous piece. In addition to her compositions, she taught civil rights activist Paul Robeson and one of America’s first great opera singers, Marian Anderson.

Aldridge composed love songs, sambas, and orchestral pieces into her old age, garnering international attention for her fusion of musical styles. At 88, Aldridge appeared for the first time on television on the British show “Music for You,” introducing a new generation to her classic compositions.

[9A]

Aug 25, 2014

Althea Gibson's 87th Birthday



In 1956, trailblazing American athlete Althea Gibson won a Grand Slam title at the French Open. The next year, she won at Wimbledon and took home the title at the US Open [then known as the US Nationals]. Gibson wasn’t just the first person of color to win these prestigious championships -- she was often the first black person to ever play them. Today, on what would have been her 87th birthday, we’re celebrating Gibson’s accomplishments and legacy with a homepage doodle in her honor.

Althea Neale Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. In 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event [the French Championships]. The following year she won both Wimbledon and the US Nationals [precursor of the US Open], then won both again in 1958 and was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. In all, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. "She is one of the greatest players who ever lived", said Bob Ryland, a tennis contemporary and former coach of Venus and Serena Williams. "Martina [Navratilova] couldn't touch her. I think she'd beat the Williams sisters." Gibson was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. In the early 1960s, she also became the first Black player to compete on the Women's Professional Golf Tour.

[9A]

Dec 15, 2022

Celebrating Claudio Kano




Today’s Doodle celebrates Japanese Brazilian table tennis player Claudio Kano. He is widely considered one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time and helped popularize the sport.

Kano was born on December 18th in São Paulo, Brazil. At 10 years old, he started playing table tennis at Clube Showa where the best local players hung out. Kano’s skill and work ethic impressed the players, who recommended that he join the São Bernardo club—one of the best table tennis teams in the country.

A few years later, Kano was playing against some of the most competitive players in the world. Fluent in English, Japanese, and Spanish, Kano quickly made friends with professional players on the international circuit. After playing with Olympic champions in Sweden for four years, Kano returned to Brazil as one of the most talented players in the country.

At just age 17, Kano became the unofficial manager of Brazil’s national team and mentored younger players. With charisma and discipline beyond his years, Kano also became a role model for children across Brazil. He went on to win two gold medals in men’s doubles and men’s team table tennis at the 1983 Pan American Games, which catapulted him to a national hero status. Kano won 10 more medals, including five golds, at the Pan American Games.

Kano also competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1993 Barcelona Olympics, placing in the top 20 in both games.

At age 30, he was on the cusp of competing in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when he passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident. The star table tennis player leaves behind a shining legacy and thanks to his success, table tennis is now a celebrated sport in Brazil. The country's top players continue to look to Kano as an inspiration.

[9A]

Oct 18, 2022

Celebrating Andrew Watson



Today's Doodle celebrates Scottish footballer Andrew Watson as he looks into the future at Black football legends to come and was illustrated by London-based guest artist Selom Sunu. Watson is considered to be the first Black international footballer, the first Black footballer to captain his country, and the first Black football administrator in history. On this day in 1884, Watson took the field for Scottish football team Queen’s Park in the first game played at the new Hampden Park stadium.

Watson was born in 1856 in Georgetown, Guyana to a wealthy Scottish businessman and Guyanese woman. At age 5, Watson and his father moved to Britain where football was becoming increasingly popular. He fell in love with the sport while attending English public schools in Yorkshire and Wimbledon.

After his father’s death, Watson inherited his wealth and became financially independent. This allowed him to enroll at the University of Glasgow where he studied engineering, natural philosophy and mathematics. Instead of graduating, 21-year-old Watson started a wholesale warehouse business and played football on the side.

Watson gained a reputation for his fast and skillful style of play as a full-back for Queen's Park FC, one of the best football clubs in Scotland. Thanks to his experience as a businessman, he was also match secretary. After Queen’s Park FC won a Scottish football title, Watson earned a chance to play for Scotland’s international team. He became the first Black man to captain his country and led Scotland to multiple wins over their rival, England, including a 6-1 victory—which remains the biggest home loss for England, ever!

His success on the international stage spurred offers from the best clubs in Scotland and England. In 1887, Watson signed with Bootle FC in northern England. At this time, amateur clubs didn’t pay their players, but Bootle FC was known to pay high-profile names. If Watson had received money to play for the Liverpool club, he would technically be the first Black professional footballer.

Over the course of his 14-year career, Watson won the Scottish Cup three times and won all three matches he played in against England.The Hampden Bowling club in Glasgow, the site of Scotland's third victory over England, features a mural of Watson. Over a century has passed since Watson’s playing days, but his impact can still be felt across the sport today, as a shining example of lighting the way for past, current and future generations of Black footballers.

[9A]

Jul 21, 2022

Jovelina Pérola Negra's 78th Birthday


Jovelina Pérola Negra’s deep, swinging voice and graceful improvisations revolutionized Brazil’s samba dance movement in the 1980s. Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Rio De Janeiro-based guest artist La Minna, celebrates the singer-songwriter’s 78th birthday.

Pérola Negra was born as Jovelina Faria Belfort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up singing and dancing samba in the Belford Roxo neighborhood. Her friend suggested the stage name Jovelina Pérola Negra [meaning “black pearl” in Portuguese] because it suited her radiant complexion and elegant voice.

Until age 40, Pérola Negra worked as a housemaid and spent her free time attending Império Serrano, a celebrated samba school in Rio de Janeiro. She regularly sang at community samba parties called pagodes in the working-class suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.

After a local producer discovered her at a pagode, Pérola Negra received the opportunity to record her first album, Raca Brasileira, with other newly discovered artists. The singers all performed the Partido Alto subgenre of samba, a style that offers vocal improvisation and singalong opportunities for the audience. Pérola Negra lent her singing and songwriting skills to three compositions on Raca Brasileira. It was wildly successful and the record label, RGE, hired Negra to record her first solo album.


Pérola Negra released her self-titled debut album to further acclaim. The song arrangements supported her emotional vocals with a cavaquinho, a Portuguese stringed instrument that resembles a ukulele—like the ones pictured in today’s Doodle. She released four more individual albums in the prime of her career, experimenting with different genres, like the slower-paced samba-canção, and earning a platinum record. Pérola Negra performed around the world in Angola, France and Japan before passing away from a heart attack at age 54.

The Brazilian Ministry of Culture awarded Pérola Negra the Order of Cultural Merit in 2016. A community center located in the Pavuna neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro was also named in her honor. Today, her music can be found on streaming platforms and in record stores all over the world.

Happy 78th birthday, Jovelina Pérola Negra!

[9A]

Jul 24, 2014

Robot Taekwon V's 38th Birthday




Only one man … er, robot can save our homepage from total domination—and that robot is Robot Taekwon V! Our doodle marks the 38th anniversary of the popular Korean animated film. Released in 1976, the movie went on to become a smash hit and inspired seven sequels, all the while embedding itself deeply into Korean culture.

[9A]

Sep 19, 2013


Robert Storm Petersen's 131st Birthday



Robert Storm Petersen [19 September 1882 – 6 March 1949] was a Danish cartoonist, writer, animator, illustrator, painter and humorist. He is known almost exclusively by his pen name Storm P.

As a humorist, Storm P. is related to British and American humor, with a strong touch of craziness and absurdity. Often his starting point is a plain Copenhagen jargon, combined with a Danish down-to-earth homespun philosophy and all kinds of fun and comedy; the common man's unimpressed comments on a crazy world.

Petersen left about 60,000 drawings and 100 paintings of varied quality. His drawings are very often illustrated jokes, or series of a theme besides artist sketches. Among his favourite themes are the vagabonds – who are portrayed as dressed-up petty philosophers – and the circus milieu that he regarded with much warmth.

[9A]

May 04, 2021

Celebrating Hisaye Yamamoto




In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, today’s Doodle celebrates Japanese-American short story author Hisaye Yamamoto, among the first Asian Americans to receive post-war national literary recognition. Throughout an acclaimed career, Yamamoto constructed candid and incisive stories that aimed to bridge the cultural divide between first and second-generation Japanese-Americans by detailing their experiences in the wake of World War II.

Born on August 23, 1921, in Redondo Beach, California, Hisaye Yamamoto was the daughter of Japanese immigrant parents. In her teens, Yamamoto wrote articles for a daily newspaper for Japanese Californians under the pen name Napoleon. Following the outbreak of World War II and due to Executive Order 9066, Yamamoto’s family was among the over 120,000 Japanese-Americans forced by the U.S. to relocate to government prison camps [aka Japanese internment camps], where they faced violence and harsh conditions. Despite the injustices encountered daily, she kept her literary aspirations alive as a reporter and columnist for the “Poston Chronicle,” the camp newspaper.

As the dust settled from the war’s end, Yamamoto was released from the internment camp and returned to the Los Angeles area in 1945. Yamamoto soon found work as a columnist with the “Los Angeles Tribune,” a weekly Black-owned and founded newspaper that sought to diversify the voices in journalism and unify the Angelo Black community with Asian Americans.

Over the next three years gathering news for the publication, Yamamoto witnessed firsthand the widespread racism that many underrepresented groups faced. These experiences profoundly changed Yamamoto, who became a literary champion of not just the Asian American community, but for others who also endured discrimination. In 1948, Yamamoto published her first short story, “The High Heeled Shoes,” which inspired Yamamoto to leave journalism and pursue writing full-time, often exploring topics related to the intersection of gender, race, and ethnicity in her works.

The adversity she overcame at the prison camp formed the basis for much of Yamamoto’s work, such as her 1950 short story “The Legend of Miss Sasagawara.” She also remained a life-long advocate in the fight against war, racism, and violence. In 1986, Yamamoto’s storytelling won the Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award for Lifetime Achievement for her contributions to American multicultural literature.

Here’s to you, Hisaye Yamamoto!

[9A]

Feb 08, 2023

Kamn Ismail 's 67th Birthday



Today’s animated Doodle celebrates the 67th birthday of Kamn Ismail, a cartoonist and pioneer in Malaysian animation. He created Keluang Man, Malaysia’s first superhero, and played a pivotal role in modernizing the country’s animation industry.

Ismail was born on this day in 1956 in Pengkalan Balak, Malacca, a small town by the sea. He fell in love with drawing as a child and dreamed of becoming a comic artist. When he was a teenager, his skills attracted the attention of McMillen Film Company, which hired him to oversee the creative aspects of a movie called Paper Tiger.

Ismail wanted to continue his career as a cartoonist but his father cautioned him against it. He feared Malaysia’s emerging animation industry couldn’t give his son a stable income.

Ismail reluctantly put his aspirations on hold. For the next 17 years, he worked as a clerk and held several positions at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway. But Ismail never gave up on his dreams and secretly learned computer animation techniques in his spare time.

His skills eventually landed him an opportunity to work for Kharisma Pictures. He trained the company’s animators and directed Malaysia’s first animated television series, Usop Sontorian, in 1996. Soon after, Ismail became a director at UAS Animation Studios, where he created the hit animation series Keluang Man. He brought the character to life by blending 2D and 3D animation. An innovative technique for its time, Ismail helped modernize Malaysia’s animation industry.

Ismail’s work has won numerous prizes such as the Best Animated Film at Malaysia Film Festival and was awarded as a Malaysian Animation Icon.

Happy 67th birthday to the father of Malaysian animation!

[9A]

Jan 25, 2023

Adelaide Cabete's 156th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 156th birthday of Adelaide Cabete, a Portuguese feminist, humanitarian, physician, and activist who tirelessly fought for women’s rights and equality in the 20th century. She was also the founder and president of the Conselho Nacional das Mulheres Portuguesas [The National Council of Portuguese Women].

Cabete was born on January 25, 1867 near Elvas, Portugal. As a child, she worked as a housemaid to help her family survive. Although she didn't have time to go to school, she still learned how to read and write on her own. When she was 23, she finished her high school diploma with distinction. She then studied medicine at the Medical-Surgical School in Lisbon and earned her degree at age 33, becoming only the third Portuguese woman to do so! Her thesis promoted the protection of pregnant women and advocated for maternity leave in Portugal.

She founded the Republican League of Portuguese Women in 1909 and the National Council of Portuguese Women [CNMP] in 1914, two institutions that supported disadvantaged women and children and advocated for women’s emancipation. Cabete also educated other women about childcare and feminine hygiene, and outwardly encouraged the opening of maternity hospitals.

She was the lead editor of the CNMP’s bulletin, Alma feminina, and wrote several articles about social and medical equality for women. She helped organize the first two feminist congresses in Portugal in 1924 and 1928, which promoted political, civil, educational, and economic rights for women.

Throughout her life, she actively fought for women’s suffrage and laid the groundwork for future feminist movements. Cabete is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in Portuguese society, remembered for her fearless leadership.

[9A]

Oct 20, 2023

Celebrating Papeda


Today’s Doodle celebrates Papeda or Bubur Sagu — a delicious sago porridge that’s a staple in Eastern Indonesia and has gained popularity all over the world.. On this day in 2015, Papeda was publicly declared an Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Millions of sago palm trees veil the islands of Indonesia, and each year locals harvest it with the intention of exporting to other countries or for cooking —like making papeda. One sago tree can produce nearly 150 to 300 kilograms of sago starch! The crop provides a balanced range of nutrients, including protein, carbs, calcium, and iron. But it also means a lot more to the communities across Indonesia that it's helped sustain for centuries. Sago is still used in various Papuan and Moluccan rituals and ceremonies, like the Watani Kame [a ceremony marking the end of a person’s death cycle].

So how does one make papeda? After removing the flour-like substance from the trees, combine it with boiling water and stir until it thickens. Sprinkle in some turmeric, basil, lemongrass, salam leaves for extra flavor, and even your favorite fish! Now you have one of Indonesia’s most famous nutritious yet delicious meals!

[9A]

May 21, 2020

Celebrating the Embroidered Shirt




Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Kyiv-based guest artist Tania Yakunova, honors the Ukrainian embroidered shirt [known as vyshyvanka] in commemoration of International Vyshyvanka Day. Held each year on the third Thursday of May, this holiday is dedicated to the preservation and revival of Ukraine’s folk tradition of crafting and wearing embroidered clothing. What began in 2006 has since exploded into a global phenomenon with participation in over 50 countries around the world.

Embroidery has been a part of Ukrainian culture since long before the country itself was established. According to archaeological evidence and the accounts of the Greek historian Herodotus, the Scythians who inhabited Ukrainian territories as early as the 9th-century B.C. often wore embroidered clothing.

Over 250 distinct embroidery stitches can be used to form the vyshyvanka’s signature coded symbols. These typically fall into three categories: floral ornamentation, zoomorphic figures, and geometric shapes, all of which can be found in today’s Doodle artwork. No pattern comes without a detailed meaning, and Ukraine’s varied cultures and natural landscapes are reflected in the unique iconography employed within each region.

Centuries later, the vyshyvanka today is recognized as an integral component of Ukraine’s national costume and an expression of patriotism and cultural pride. So throw on your finest embroidered shirt, and join in this celebration of Ukrainian culture!

Happy International Vyshyvanka Day!

[9A]

29 January 2023

Celebrating Bubble Tea





Tangy and fruity or sweet and milky? The combinations are endless! Today’s interactive game Doodle celebrates bubble tea, also known as boba tea and pearl milk tea. Honeydew, matcha, raspberry, mocha – no matter the flavor, don’t forget to mix in some bubbly balls made with fruit jelly or tapioca. Bubble Tea gained such popularity globally that it was officially announced as a new emoji on this day in 2020.

This Taiwanese drink started as a local treat and has exploded in popularity over the last few decades. Bubble tea has its roots in traditional Taiwanese tea culture which dates back as early as the 17th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the bubble tea as we know today was invented. As waves of Taiwanese immigrants over the past few decades brought this drink overseas, innovation on the original bubble tea continues. Shops around the world are still experimenting with new flavors, additions, and mixtures. Traditional tearooms across Asia have also joined in on the boba craze, and the trend has reached countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and more!

Satisfy your craving and make a yummy cup of bubble tea in today’s interactive Doodle, which features Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan Mountain Dog as well as a crew of familiar Doodle characters!

[9A]

May 20, 2023

Celebrating Lake Xochimilco




Today’s interactive Doodle celebrates Lake Xochimilco, a natural lake near Mexico City that is the last remaining native habitat for axolotls in the world [cousins of the salamander]. The lake was once home to the ancient Aztec civilization during the 15th century, and eventually landowners in the colonial period took over occupation of the lake. On this day in 1920, the Mexican government returned Lake Xochimilco back to the locals. Lake Xochimilco now serves as a recreational site, cultural attraction, and home to the rare axolotl species.

Due to Lake Xochimilco’s unique landscape, local farmers adopted the ancient chinampa farming method, which involves artificial floating gardens. These chinamperos [or farmers] grow hundreds of different aquatic plants, from common vegetables to medicinal herbs, in the nutrient-rich soil. It’s also a popular destination for rowing and kayaking — cruising on colorful, wooden boats called trajineras is an essential pastime on the lake.

Lake Xochimilco is also currently the last remaining native habitat on Earth for axolotls, fresh-water salamanders that live in the water instead of on land. Their mouths are permanently upturned into a slight smile, and they can regenerate limbs, gills, and even parts of their eyes and brains! Unfortunately, these delicate creatures were listed as a critically endangered species in 2008.

Legend has it that their namesake — the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl — disguised himself as a salamander to avoid sacrifice. The axolotl is so culturally revered in Mexico that the Bank of Mexico added the salamander to the country’s 50-peso bill in 2021.

Today, many are working to protect Lake Xochimilco after years of pollution, invasive species, man-made disturbances, and other obstacles have harmed the axolotl ecosystem. Local chinamperos have been actively restoring their lands with better fertilizers and water filters to preserve these creatures that have become an integral part of their identity and way of life.

Click today’s Doodle to hop on a trajinera boat with salamander tourists to see if you can snap a pic of some of the axolotls that call Lake Xochimilco home!

[9A]

Apr 14, 2023

Sanda Bunsidth's 104th Birthday



Today’s Doodle celebrates the 104th birthday of Thai artist Sanda Bunsidth. A skilled and creative weaver, her innovative methods are forever intertwined with her culture.

Bunsidth was born in Ban Tha Muang, Thailand on this day in 1919. Although she never received a formal education, family members taught her how to read and write. She started weaving at a young age under the guidance of her grandma, a skilled craftsperson who often worked with dyes and ancient herbs.

After marrying, Bunsidth developed a method of weaving called “bark cloth,” to create khaki-colored uniforms for her husband’s job as a civil servant. Wives in her town took notice of her impressive work, and Bunsidth offered to teach them. Eventually, she organized and taught a weaving group called "Ban Rai Phai Ngam Housewives Group,” which grew to over 40 members.

The group’s designs earned praise from the public and Bunisdth reached folk-hero status across Thailand. She was lauded for her ability to use her surroundings as inspiration and keep the environment top-of-mind throughout the creation process. She instructed the group to use pure herbal dyes in fabric without any chemical additives while still managing to develop entirely new designs.

Bunsidth earned the Outstanding Folk Artist Award in 1985 and in 1986, she won the Science Society of Thailand’s award for Outstanding Lanna science and technology worker in the field of textiles. Her work continues to inspire generations of Thai weavers.

[9A]

Feb 10, 2024

Global Lunar New Year 2024




Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar. Lunar calendars follow the lunar phase while lunisolar calendars follow both the lunar phase and the time of the solar year. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.

The more well-known celebrations include New Year's Day [or week] in the Chinese calendar and Tibetan calendar of East Asia; the Buddhist and Hindu calendars of Southeast and South Asia; the Islamic calendar and the Jewish calendar that originated in the Middle East; and the Nisga'a calendar from Canada. The determination of the first month of a new lunar year varies by culture.

Lunar New Year traditions originated thousands of years ago with a legend about a mythical beast that appeared each year to torment people. Families covered their doors in red paper, left lanterns on overnight, and set off fireworks to ward off the beast. Today, many red lanterns can be seen hanging in neighborhoods. It’s also popular to gift money in red envelopes to the youngest and oldest people within communities and families.

As shown in the Doodle artwork, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which represents strength, health, and good luck. Happy Lunar New Year to everyone who celebrates!

[9A]

Apr 25, 2013

Ella Fitzgerald's 96th Birthday



My first encounter with Ella Fitzgerald’s music happened when I was about 12. My parents were hosting a party, and my dad had charged me with the task of burning a CD of jazzy music, suggesting songs by the Queen of Jazz herself. Having only heard her name through word-of-mouth, I sharpied the title “Elephants Gerald” onto the disc. Let’s just say my innocent mistake earned me a few embarrassing laughs.

Despite my early misunderstanding of Ella’s name, I have grown to adore her music. This is why I jumped at the chance to create today’s doodle!

Ms. Fitzgerald’s songs are soulful, jazzy, and create a very particular mood when played. I wanted to make sure that my doodle captured that essence. I chose to create the doodle out of cut paper because I knew that I could use this technique to imitate real stage-lighting and theatricality.

This was the first time I had ever attempted papercraft illustration, so it was a bit scary for me. I first sketched the entire scene in Photoshop. I wanted to make sure I knew exactly where and what to cut beforehand!

Once I had a tight sketch, I began to cut out pieces of paper. I printed several copies of my digital sketch and used it as a pattern. My desk became a huge mess very quickly!





[this was only the beginning...it got way messier!]




I had a lot of fun depicting the lighting with simple, geometric shapes. In some cases, such as with Ella, I added detail with colored pencils. It really helped
bring her to life!



The final doodle was coming together...



I did a few test photo shoots, but it still felt like it was missing something! The colors weren’t nearly as vibrant and blues-y as the photographs I had found of Ms. Fitzgerald singing. I could have altered them in Photoshop, but I felt like that would have defeated the purpose of using traditional media.



It wasn’t until I started to experiment with colored LED lights that I felt like the piece came together. This really helped the illustration feel like it was a lit stage!



I am so honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the greatest [and one of my favorite] singers of all time. Happy 96th, Ella!

Posted by Betsy Bauer, Doodler.

[9A]

April 25, 2011

90th Birthday of Karel Appel



Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet. He started painting at the age of fourteen and studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in the 1940s. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde movement CoBrA in 1948. He was also an avid sculptor and has had works featured in MoMA and other museums worldwide.

Christiaan Karel Appel was a Dutch painter, sculptor, and poet. He started painting at the age of fourteen and studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in the 1940s. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde movement CoBrA in 1948. He was also an avid sculptor and has had works featured in MoMA and other museums worldwide.

[9A]

April 22, 2013


Dooly the Little Dinosaur's Birthday



Dooly the Little Dinosaur is a cartoon serialized from 1983 to 1993 by South Korean cartoonist Kim Soo-jung with a little dinosaur as the subject, and it refers to animations and other media mix works based on the original. It is a 1987 South Korean comic series and animated film and television series created by Kim Soo-jung. Dooly is one of the most respected and commercially successful characters of South Korean animation. It was printed in 1995 in South Korea. Dooly also has a resident registration card, which means he is a citizen of South Korea.

[9A]

May 15, 2013

Frank Hornby's 150th Birthday





Frank Hornby was an English inventor, businessman and politician. He was a visionary in toy development and manufacture, and although he had no formal engineering training, he was responsible for the invention and production of three of the most popular lines of toys based on engineering principles in the 20th century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. He also founded the British toy company Meccano Ltd in 1908, and launched a monthly publication, Meccano Magazine in 1916.

[9A]

Mar 04, 2013

Miriam Makeba's 81st Birthday




South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba was born in 1932 in Johannesburg. Unfortunately, her early life was marred by tragedy and hardship; when she was just 18 days old, her mother was sent to prison and Makeba went with her. Makeba later lived with her grandmother in Pretoria and joined her church and school choirs. In the 1950s, she moved to Sophiatown, where music filled the streets — big band, African jazz, and anything else that moved people to sing. Thanks to her musical talent, by the end of the decade, she had made a name for herself throughout the country.

Makeba performed with a few different bands and embarked on an acting career. In 1959, she appeared in a documentary that angered the South African authorities; as a result, her passport was revoked. The advent of apartheid led her to leave South Africa. She found success in the United States however, winning a Grammy Award in 1965 and joining Paul Simon on his Graceland tour in the 1980s. She used her newfound fame to draw attention to the suffering and oppression of South Africa under apartheid.

Makeba continued making music and fought for humanitarian causes throughout the rest of her life. Upon her passing, Nelson Mandela said, "Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us."