If you visited Google’s homepage at least one time today, you have stumbled on what seems to be one of the most magnificent and socially conscious doodle works that we have seen on Google’s homepage, outside of black history month. The artist behind today’s featured doodle is this years winner of the Doodle 4 Google contest, 15-year old Washington D.C. Native, Akilah Johnson. Akilah is currently a sophomore at Eastern Senior High School in the Northeast region of Washington D.C.
Titled “My Afrocentric Life”, the Doodle image features many symbols of black heritage such as the Ankh, the black power fist, Africa and much more. Akilah described in a Google blog post the goal of her artwork :
“My goal with my art was to not only turn heads but souls as well—not only for someone to see it and be amazed by it but also to have them understand and connect with it. My drawing explores childhood themes and then moves into reflections on our society. Everything surrounding the word “Google” depicts my characteristics. Of all the things I chose to include, the six most special to me are the Symbol of Life (the ankh), the African continent, where everything began for me and my ancestors, the Eye of Horus, the word “power” drawn in black, the woman’s fist based on one of my favorite artist’s works, and the D.C. flag—because I’m a Washingtonian at heart and I love my city with everything in me!”
According to USAToday, when asked about the meaning being her doodle, Akilah stated “I grew up learning a lot about my history as an African American. As I grew older, I realized that the black people that came before us has made us into what we are today, so of course I had to include them in my doodle,” Akilah, being the first African American to win this contest is surely making those who came before her very proud while spreading a powerful message of black pride in her artwork.
Akilah and the other 4 finalists in the Doodle 4 Google contest received the invitation of a lifetime to head to Google’s campus in Mountain View, California to enjoy a day of workshops and elbow rubbing with some of the guest judges including animator Glenn Keane and astronaut Yvonne Cagle.
Akilah’s win will not only benefit her with the $30,000 college scholarship that she is set to receive; her high school will also be receiving a $50,000 technology grant. Akilah is living by the quote that served as inspiration for this masterpiece, “Be the type of person that not only turns heads, but turns souls.”
Here, you can check out a gallery of all the finalists in the Doodle 4 Google contest. Congratulations Akilah!
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