20.05.2022 20:30 Date: May 21, 2022 Location: Tags: , , , ,
19.05.2022 07:30 Date: May 19, 2022 Go behind-the-scenes of today’s Doodle below! 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, —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 From 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. Discover more about the life and legacy of Stacey Park Milbern, a warrior for disability justice, with on Google Arts & Culture. Special thanks to Stacey Milbern’s friends and family for their collaboration on this project. Below, her sister Jessica Milbern and her close friend Andraéa LaVant both share their thoughts on Stacey’s legacy. Photographed: Stacey Milbern Courtesy of the Estate of Stacey Milbern Our family is honored that Google is celebrating Stacey. Today in North Carolina, in California, and across the country, people are reflecting on Stacey as a friend and activist, revisiting the imprint she left on their lives. Stacey was a pioneer for disability justice and intersectionality. Her life experiences led her to empower and revitalize others. Stacey taught us that everyone is valuable, despite what society may say, and that each person has an important role to play. She advocated for movements to move at the pace of the slowest person so that no one is left behind and used her voice to amplify the voices of underserved communities. “As a visionary speaker, Stacey captivated audiences in the largest auditoriums, not by the strength of her voice but through the wisdom of her words and the power of her convictions,” our dad says. The passing of Stacey was devastating for many of us. This was not only due to the impact of her work but also largely due to her connections with people on a personal level. She opened her home to many grassroots organizations and folks in the Bay Area to share meals and build community. Stacey was eager to introduce people and had a wonderful way of making a person feel special. Her smile was joyful, and her laugh was like a much-needed hug. She will continue to shine brightly in all the lives that she touched—as a radiant beacon of wisdom, strength, and love—as we strive to carry her legacy forward. - Jessica Milbern, Stacey’s sister __________________________________ Her laugh. Every time anyone asks what I miss most about my dear, sister-friend, Stacey Park Milbern, my response is the same. It’s her laugh. Stacey had a giggle that said so much. It expressed joy, lightness, and freedom. Whether it was a meme we’d send one another after a taxing work day or the happiness she’d experience from watching me react to a new cuisine , that giggle had power! Stacey’s very essence exuded power. Like many other millennials and generations that come after us, Stacey and I first connected on social media. Given her work and reputation as a trailblazing young disability advocate and activist, I already knew who she was. However, disability wasn’t the topic that prompted me to send that initial DM to Stacey. Scrolling through my feed one day, I was wonderfully surprised to see her post photos of a commemorative moment from the previous weekend where she professed her faith through a water baptism. Up until then, I’d learned much about Stacey. I knew she was a proud queer disabled, Korean American femme. I did NOT know she was a person of faith, and quite honestly, I was floored! How someone could so boldly embrace every single aspect of their communities and identities without shame was beyond me. I wanted to know more… …and that’s what happened for years after that. For about two years Stacey and I traded stories and supported one another from afar. She helped me transition to a new city and I supported her as she navigated the complexities of building the dream home that would later become the headquarters for the Disability Justice Culture Club . I learned so many things from her, but the lesson I will cherish the most is the art of “taking up space”...of being unapologetic. Stacey never apologized for who she was. She never apologized for ensuring her needs were met. She was fully and completely herself, and that’s what I loved so much about her and what I love about this Doodle created by Art Twink. It depicts the full joy and pride Stacey had for herself and the communities she represented. While the world continues to laud her for her powerful words and radical, brilliant mind, even when Stacey was not speaking verbally, she was saying something. Her presence, her smile , her LAUGH said something. Something that the world needed then, needs now, and that I will continue to cherish. - Andraéa LaVant, Stacey’s friend Location: Tags: , , , , , , ,
17.05.2022 08:45 Date: May 17, 2022 Today's Doodle celebrates Norway Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai, an independent nation. 1814 marked the year of signing the country’s modern constitution—making it one of the oldest in the world. Norway’s Constitution Day wasn’t widely recognized until after their national poet Henrik Wergeland held a public address in 1833. Not only did Henrik’s address mark the start of celebratory traditions, he became a symbol of Norway’s independence. By the 1860’s, the jubilees pivoted from patriotism to children, and since then the day has focused on the youth. The first barnetog was held in Oslo where children marched with smiles, pride, and a tri-colored flag in hand. Many people also wear traditional folk garments while they joyously chant songs like “Norway in Red, White and Blue” and “Seventeenth of May I’m So Glad.” Gratulerer med dagen, Norge! Location: Tags:
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14.05.2022 07:01 Date: May 14, 2022 Today's Doodle celebrates Paraguay’s Independence Day—also known as Día de la Independencia Nacional. On this day in 1811, Paraguay declared their independence from Spain and became the second independent nation of the Americas. To celebrate Paraguay’s independence, men and women don their straw hats and bombachas or brightly-colored blouses and rebozos, and explore the streets for local music performances. Paraguayans can also enjoy elaborate parades, family football games and outdoor barbecues throughout the day. It wouldn’t be a celebration without delicacies like sopa paraguaya and yerba mate and watching Paraguay’s distinctive two-sided design flag wave proudly in the streets. Depicted in the Doodle artwork, the flag of Paraguay is one of the world’s few national flags with different emblems on either side. In the center of one side is the Paraguayan coat of arms, and on the opposite, the treasury seal with the national motto: “Paz y justicia” . ¡Feliz día de la independencia, Paraguay! Location: Tags: , , , ,
13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 13, 2022 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. Location: Tags:
13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 13, 2022 Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu was a high-flying reporter, war correspondent and the first licensed woman aviator in Romania. Today’s Google Doodle, illustrated by Cluj-Napoca, Romania-based guest artist , celebrates this aviator’s 135th Birthday Caragiani-Stoenescu was born on May 13th, 1887 in Tecuci, Romania. At the age of 25, she flew for the first time in a plane piloted by her former horse-riding instructor. Later that year, she enrolled in the League of Aviation, a Romanian flying school. As the only female student in the school, her civil pilot license was rejected by the Ministries of Education and Civil Defense despite her completion of all courses. Undeterred, Caragiani-Stoenescu joined the Civil Aviation School in France. At the age of 27 she received her pilot license, the 12th international license granted to a woman and the first for a Romanian woman. Romania didn’t allow her to participate in airshows, so Caragiani-Stoenescu became a reporter for a French daily newspaper, flying for long-distance trips to the Caribbean and South America. She also worked as a war correspondent for the Press Trust of Mexico. After Romania’s entry into World War I, she requested to participate as a pilot, but was again denied. Caragiani-Stoenescu worked as a Red Cross nurse in Bucharest, Romania for the duration of the war. She later established a health clinic in Tecuci and worked as a journalist around the world focusing on airline events. Today, a high school in Caragiani-Stoenescu’s birthplace bears her name and she is commonly studied in Romanian aviation courses. Happy 135th Birthday Elena Caragiani-Stoenescu! Your determination and legacy have inspired women to soar to new heights. Guest Artist Q&A with Dariana Ilie Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Cluj-Napoca, Romania-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: Elena’s story is very inspirational to me. Her accomplishments are remarkable. The fact that I had the chance to document and embody her life and actions through my artistic style truly inspired me in my process and makes me extremely grateful to take part in this project. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: The inspiration came from her story. I mostly work with simple shapes and loose elements associated with the human figure so in this case Elena’s story and her strong personality were very inspirational to me. Portraying her as the strong woman she was felt like a great challenge and I found the process extremely energizing. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: I would like people to feel more driven and joyous in pursuing even the tiniest dreams that they have on a daily basis. My Doodle can be an example of what accomplishments feel like when you hold dear your passion and stay sincere to yourself. The message can be perceived differently by everyone but I still hope that it is founded on the feeling of joy. Location: Tags:
13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 12, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 92nd birthday of Mazisi Kunene, an anti-apartheid activist and South African poet laureate whose work recorded the history of the Zulu people. Kunene was born and raised in Durban, an eastern South African province now called KwaZulu-Natal. As a child, he loved writing short stories and poetry in Zulu. By age 11, he was publishing his writings in local newspapers and magazines. As he grew older, he became a strong advocate for the preservation of indigenous Zulu poetic traditions. His master’s thesis notably critiqued how Western literary traditions were diluting Zulu literature. At the start of apartheid, Kunene used his works to resist the government’s racist segregation system. When South African government reacted with violence toward the resistance movement in 1959, and exiled Kunene, he fled to the U.K. , where he helped start anti-apartheid movement. During this time, his work was banned in South Africa. In exile, Kunene went on to publish monumental works of literature such as “Emperor Shaka the Great,” “Anthem of the Decades” and “The Ancestors and the Sacred Mountain.” His work is known for exploring South African culture, religion and history in the context of colonialism, apartheid and slavery. In 1975, Kunene became an African literature professor at University of California, Los Angeles, where he taught for nearly two decades. He also served as a cultural advisor to UNESCO during this time. Post-apartheid, Kunene returned to South Africa to continue writing in isiZulu. In 1993, UNESCO honored him as Africa’s poet laureate. He later also became the first poet laureate of democratic South Africa. His legacy lives on not only in his poetry, but also the Mazisi Kunene Foundation Trust, which is dedicated to nurturing Africa’s next generation of literary talent. Happy birthday, Mazisi Kunene! Location: , , , , Tags:
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13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 10, 2022 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist , honors the 110th birthday of Dr. Tôn Thất Tùng, the innovative Vietnamese surgeon who revolutionized the approach to liver resection surgery for doctors around the world. Dr. Tùng was born on this day in Hué, Vietnam in 1912—a time when the French colonial government forbade Vietnamese people from pursuing advanced medical education. As an adult, Dr. Tùng protested this harsh policy and ignited an equal education movement. His efforts eventually forced the colonial government to allow Vietnamese students to take residency admissions exams in 1938. In his four years of postgraduate school, Dr. Tùng dissected more than 200 livers and became the first to conduct such meticulous research on the organ. His deep knowledge of liver anatomy helped him realize the traditional approach to liver surgery—a method that took three to six hours to complete—was unnecessarily risky and cumbersome. Dr. Tùng founded a new surgery method that minimized bleeding by tightening the hepatic veins before the operation, shortening the operation down to only four to eight minutes. His groundbreaking technique, commonly known as the “Tôn Thất Tùng Method,” is renowned by surgeons globally for its ability to reduce blood loss and save countless lives. Happy birthday Dr. Tôn Thất Tùng! Thank you for pushing the boundaries of surgery to change the medical field forever. Guest Artist Q&A with Chau Luong Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Berlin-based guest artist . Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle: Q. Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? A: Vietnam is a country I hold dear to my heart as both of my parents were born there. They came to Germany at different points in their life as teenagers. I grew up between cultures— as an adult now I consider that a blessing but as a kid, it sometimes was tough. There were only very few Vietnamese people in German media but at home we would speak Vietnamese, so at times I felt a disconnect. It feels very special to see a Vietnamese person honored by a platform like Google on such a global level—especially since Tôn Thất Tùng belongs to the generation of my great grandparents. Growing up, I would have loved to see this kind of Vietnamese historic figure represented in Western society. Q. What were your first thoughts when you were approached about working on this Doodle? A: I was very excited, I'd say even honored in a way. What I love about Doodles is that they are easily accessible. It is therefore such a humbling experience to know that people from all walks of life might encounter my work. Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? A: At the early stage of production, I skimmed through Vietnamese media on Tôn Thất Tùng. I noticed that he was often referred to as the man with the pair of golden hands . This particular metaphor moved me—in Vietnamese culture, gold is a symbol of fortune and happiness. My family would compare things to gold when they were of irreplaceable value. But moreover, I also believe it is a symbol of freedom for many of the Vietnamese diaspora. Vietnamese refugees often carried gold with them as payment not knowing where they might end up. Q. What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle? A: Tôn Thất Tùng lived in an extremely conflict-ridden time. Despite the national struggles, he decided to stay in Vietnam. He was one of the leading forces in establishing the country's healthcare system. I hope that my Doodle transports his commitment and pursuit to make life better for many generations of Vietnamese people to this day. Early draft of the Doodle Location: , , Tags:
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13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 8, 2022 Happy Mother's Day! ❤️ Location: Tags: , , ,
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13.05.2022 13:01 Date: May 5, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Yom Ha'atzmaut, or Israeli Independence Day. On this day in 1948 in Tel Aviv, the State of Israel declared their independence. The celebrations fall on the 5th day of Iyar , which ranges anywhere from late April to early May on the Gregorian Calendar. This year’s Independence Day celebrations start from sunset on May 4th to sunset on May 5th, and immediately follows Israeli Memorial Day, or Yom HaZikaron. The celebration starts each year with the Torch Lighting Ceremony on Mount Herzl and a congratulatory speech delivered by the speaker of the Israeli parliament, The Knesset. At the lighting ceremony, 12 Israelis who have made a significant contribution to the country of Israel will light 12 torches to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. Following the opening ceremonies, firework shows and live performances full of folk dances, popular Israeli music and sing-alongs continue throughout the night. Families can proudly wave the flag of Israel while enjoying picnics, parades, and famous airplane fly-bys the day after. The holiday is concluded by the Israel Prize ceremony, where standout citizens are recognized and awarded for their cultural contributions to the country. Happy Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel! Location: Tags:
