Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Atlanta-based guest artist Dr. Fahamu Pecou, pays tribute to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national day of service, named in his honor. A civil rights icon, Dr. King strived to pave the way for a world where people would be treated equally, regardless of their race.

Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15th, 1929, and raised in a ministerial family during the segregation era. In 1955, Dr. King helped organize the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the first major protests of the African-American civil rights movement. The boycott resulted in the 1956 Supreme Court decision to declare segregation on buses unconstitutional.

A powerful orator, Dr. King traveled across the country  advocating for justice and access to public services for all, delivering upwards of 2,500 speeches over his lifetime. Organizing such landmark demonstrations as the 1963 March on Washington, Dr. King also played a pivotal role in the passing of the Civil Rights of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the first national holiday named for a modern private citizen. Initially celebrated on this day in 1986, it is now observed in all 50 states.

Guest Artist Q&A with Dr. Fahamu Pecou

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Atlanta-based guest artist Dr. Fahamu Pecou. Dr. Pecou has an ongoing series of iconic individuals in expressionist drawings where he subverts conventional death-focused narratives and instead highlights the individuals' impact on society. Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: The city I love and work in is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King. His presence is felt throughout the city: in the Sweet Auburn district where he was born and raised, the campus of Morehouse College where he was educated, and the State Capitol. There are many sites around the city, monuments to Dr. King and his legacy. The impact of his life and legacy directly shapes my reality, and the conviction in his words and activism shape my perspective.  

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I was immediately honored by the invitation. It has been a joy to witness the various creative interpretations of the Google Doodle over the years. I was especially humbled to be chosen for the Doodle recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Day. 

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

A: Dr. King is remembered as one of the most important human beings in history. In some ways, his level of achievement, compassion, and significance can be daunting. But Dr. King, in his own words, reminded us that what he did and stood for was no extraordinary feat—we must rise to our own greatness for the betterment of all mankind. He reminded us that no man was ever granted a right that he didn’t fight for. And that when we come together—we as a country, as a people, as human beings—we can overcome anything and make this world a better place. 

I’ve always been humbled and empowered by those ideas and wished to make Dr. King‘s sentiment more accessible through this piece. Dr. King’s Day is a day of service to others, and we honor him by coming together and carrying forward the work of racial and social justice.

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

A: I hope my Doodle inspires personal activism. By that I mean, I hope every person that sees it, sees themself. I hope they see that any and every individual has the capacity to make our world better. I hope they see that Dr. King's words are a call to ACTION, and that we collectively play our parts in performing that action until the “dream” is manifest.  

Early drafts of the Doodle

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