YouTube celebrates Black History Month 2021
Image Credit: Janine Robinson
Watch as each week of Black History Month 2021 Black artists reimagine the YouTube logo.
To mark Black History Month in the US and Canada, YouTube’s logo is changing each week, designed by a different Black artist. The platform aims to celebrate Black voices and stories that have added innovation to YouTube and across the world.
First up, YouTube commissioned Black artist Leandro Assis to reimagine the YouTube logo and produce artwork to feature on its homepage in the US.
Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Assis is an artist, letterer and art director famous for his bold designs and eye-catching lettering. His work includes promo for RuPaul’s Drag Race. Asked about the inspiration for the YouTube logo design, he said:
What inspired me to create this piece were the Black people around me. The meaning and importance of our hair, the way we dance, the rhythms we create, and the beauty of our different skin tones.
Leandro Assis
YouTube is also marking the occasion with curated content from Black Creators and talent across the platform. This includes the playlist ‘Voices of Black Creativity’, in which Black creatives talk about their work and share advice, music playlists, and a ‘Celebrate Black Perspectives’ playlist which highlights Black creators who have changed minds and shaped communities.
YouTube are also shining a spotlight on their #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021, part of a $100m project announced last June in the wake of the BLM protests.
Spotify meanwhile is celebrating Black History Month with new content including playlists and podcasts honouring the history and culture of the Black community.