Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2022

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Brooklyn, New York-based guest artist Olivia Fields, celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This United States federal holiday commemorates a day of service and reflection on the life and work of Dr. King—the civil rights leader who worked as a lifelong advocate for racial equality and the end of segregation. 

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. He began his career of service in Montgomery, Alabama as a pastor and community leader in the NAACP, which aimed to establish legal protections for the Black community across all aspects of social and institutional life. Members of the NAACP elected Dr. King to fight segregation by leading a historic bus boycott in 1955. As the first, large-scale, peaceful demonstration of its kind, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts marked a turning point in the American civil rights movement and inspired generations to fight for civil rights.  

Through influential demonstrations, speeches, and written works, Dr. King spread his message of racial justice and economic equality. His efforts culminated with the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, a landmark piece of legislation that decreed the end of legal public segregation and discrimination in the United States. In commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday, the third Monday in January was declared a federal holiday in 1983 and observed for the first time in 1986. 

Dr. King’s legacy lives on in the work of his children and in the millions inspired by his impactful rhetoric to continue pushing the arc of the moral universe to an equitable society for all. 

Happy MLK Day!

Guest Artist Q&A with Olivia Fields

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Brooklyn, New York-based guest artist Olivia Fields. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally?

A. My life has been shaped by the activism that took place in the past and continues to be formed by the movements that exist today. It cannot be understated how much is owed to individuals like Dr. King who have fought to make a better life for everyone. Not just to survive, but to thrive and to live fully. It should always be acknowledged.

Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle?

A. I was very excited and humbled to be considered. Creating a Google Doodle has been something I've always wanted to do, and to depict one of the most prominent figures of the civil rights movement in American history was a great honor.

Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A. The quote, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." influenced the initial conception of the doodle. I decided to focus on the visual of an arc to establish the movement in the piece. And everything moves, looks on, in the same direction....forward.

Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A. Although it is future-focused, I hope people consider the importance of connection, especially in this present moment. It goes without saying how significant (and essential) support is. Think about how necessary it is to reach out and to take hold as well. This is something I hope the Doodle inspires. 

Early drafts of the Doodle