Google's recent decision to remove references to significant cultural events from its calendar application has sparked considerable criticism. Users of Google Calendar noticed the absence of celebrations such as Black History Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Women's History Month from their schedules for 2025. This choice has occurred during turbulent political shifts, with many linking it to the return of Donald Trump to the presidency.
Previously, Google’s Calendar app was known for marking these important monthly observances, which celebrate various communities' cultures and histories. According to Madison Cushman Veld, Google spokesperson, the removal stems from the challenge of sustaining numerous cultural events worldwide. "Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments...so...maintaining hundreds of moments manually...wasn’t scalable or sustainable," Veld stated. Consequently, Google has opted to return to displaying only public holidays and national observances sourced from timeanddate.com.
The omission of these commemorative events, including significant dates such as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Hispanic Heritage Month, raises alarms among advocates for diversity and inclusion. These events are not only celebrations; they serve as reminders of the historical struggles faced by these communities. For example, Black History Month, established decades ago, honors the contributions and achievements of African Americans and allows for reflection on their history.
The historical roots of Black History Month trace back to 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson initiated the celebration to promote awareness of Black history, timed to coincide with the birthdays of both President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Over the years, Black History Month has become integral to education and cultural acknowledgment, fostering pride and consciousness among African Americans and allies alike.
The reaction from social media has been swift, with users expressing disappointment and frustration over the absence of these celebrated months. Many feel this removal diminishes recognition of their cultures and identities within such a widely used platform. The changes take the option to commemorate these significant events out of the automatic sphere, prompting users to add them manually if they wish to preserve recognition.
This policy shift also aligns with broader changes at Google as they adjust their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Under Trump's administration, there has been pressure to scale back DEI efforts across various industries, and Google appears to be following suit. The company had previously pledged to improve diversity within its workforce but, as recent reports suggest, has since eliminated explicit references to these initiatives from their annual SEC filings.
Alongside the calendar modifications, other controversial changes include renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on Google Maps and reverting to the title “Mount McKinley” for the mountain currently known as Denali. These name changes, rolled out following executive orders from Trump, have stirred additional debate about cultural representation and historical accuracy.
While Google maintains it will continue to celebrate significant cultural occasions within its products, such as offering themed playlists on platforms like YouTube Music, the question of commitment lingers over how society will view these alterations. Users may notice if other features, like Google Doodles—fun, celebratory artwork featured on its homepage—will continue to honor these same cultural events.
Critics argue this trend indicates a troubling disinterest or, perhaps worse, hostility toward recognizing the intricacies of America’s diverse culture. They worry about the message sent when major tech companies, integral to everyday communications, choose to downplay or completely ignore days celebrating identity and history.
Calls for accountability from technology firms are growing louder. Advocates insist corporations should actively support diversity and inclusion, showing respect for all cultures rather than adhering to a narrower perspective. Such inclusivity can be able to lead not only to richer products and environments but also to more equitable workplaces.
The recent changes made by Google highlight the complex intersections of corporate policy, cultural representation, and political influence. How these choices will play out remains unclear, as public dialogue surrounding representation and acknowledgment gathers momentum. The consequences of erasing significant cultural events could echo far beyond Google Calendar, impacting broader societal views on diversity, equity, and inclusion.