As we continue to move through February, individuals and brands across social media are looking for ways to take part in commemorations and celebrations of Black History Month. Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest announced several ways they’ll be contributing this month and in the year ahead, and there are some good opportunities for those wanting to get involved to check out.
Facebook shared its plans to amplify Black voices for the month of February across its Facebook and Instagram platforms.
A docuseries called Written By made its debut on the Facebook company page, featuring stories sharing the premise that Black history is being written in real time. The series comes from award-winning director and cinematographer Bradford Young, and will feature content from across the social media giant’s apps throughout the month. Facebook also introduced We the Culture, a creative community comprising and curated by Black creators dedicated to championing Black culture.
Over on Facebook Watch, a new original four-episode miniseries called Forward: The Future of Black Music will debut later this month, each episode hosted by a music icon sharing a new talented and noteworthy artist. The miniseries will also be available on Facebook Messenger’s Watch Together (a feature that allows friends to watch together virtually), though no further details about when it will be available were released.
On Instagram, a multichannel call to action dubbed #ShareBlackStories hosts workshops and other community-focused virtual events for Black creators, and the platform has published new creative tools in the Instagram Camera to support the campaign. Content can be seen across all of Instagram’s official accounts, including @instagram, @creators, @design, @shop, and @instagramforbusiness.
Finally, Facebook announced it has allocated $10 million over two years to fund the Black Gaming Creator Program, to encourage diversity on its Facebook Gaming platform. The program offers opportunities to apply for partnership status and gain exclusive benefits including mentorship and training on the platform.
Pinterest announced that it will showcase Black creators across the platform this month, using its internal employee resource group Blackboard.
On Feb. 24, Pinterest will host Pinterest Creators Presents: Black Gold, a digital speaking event spotlighting Black creatives and role models. “We are delighted to host our first Pinterest Creators Presents: Black Gold event in the U.S. to celebrate Black excellence in the digital space,” said Alexandra Nikolajev, global creator inclusion lead for Pinterest, in a statement. “Pinterest is committed to being a positive, inclusive space where Black creators, business owners, and Pinners alike can grow their audience and inspire everyone to build a life they love. We are so excited to share this event with our creator community as we elevate Black voices and champion the amazing content you continue to make.”
In addition, Pinterest will feature daily inspiration on Black culture, history, and heroes on its Today Tab, found at the top of the Pinterest home feed. Products from Black-owned businesses will also be featured in Pinterest’s February Shopping Spotlight.
Top: Pinterest’s Shopping Spotlight page (image via Pinterest)
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