Google has launched the fifth edition of its “Black-Owned Friday” campaign, celebrating the holiday by supporting Black entrepreneurs.
Led by global creative company Entropico and directed by award-winning Chicago-born filmmaker Rodney Lucas, the effort features a short film with a cast of Black artists and innovators.
It stars rapper GloRilla, comedian Druski, and influencer Jayda Cheaves, who visit three different Black-owned businesses in Georgia:
- Royal Crown Barber Shop
- The Wellness Spot yoga studio
- Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar
With the help of Google Maps and a feature that allows businesses to be identified as Black-owned, people can locate new establishments to support these entrepreneurs.
In a Google blog post, Dr. Lee highlighted how Black-owned businesses contribute to local communities:
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the power Black-owned businesses have to foster vibrant communities, and how much community support means to entrepreneurs like me.”
Additionally, the campaign also marks Google’s fifth year of its ongoing partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, the largest Black business association dedicated to empowering African American communities.
With this campaign, Google raises awareness for Black-owned businesses with socially impactful efforts that showcase its brand purpose.
It also utilizes the art of brand storytelling to emphasize uniquely Black experiences that resonate with the wider community.
For the Community
In a three-minute segment, Druski takes to the streets of Georgia in search of Black-owned businesses.
Throughout his adventure, he cracks jokes and humorously tries out new experiences with GloRilla and Cheaves.
Previous iterations of the campaign took a decidedly different approach, utilizing catchy hooks and vibrant music videos to promote Black-owned businesses.
Last year’s campaign featured a stunning dance track from renowned actress Keke Palmer and legendary musician Crystal Waters.
In 2022, Ludacris and Flo Milli came together to create a hip-hop anthem spotlighting Black-owned bakeries, juice bars, and nail salons.
Other versions of the campaign from previous years featured tracks from artists like T-Pain, Normani, and Wyclef Jean.
Earlier this month, the search giant also brought back its “Pixel in the Clutch” campaign to promote the Pixel 9 smartphone.
B2B Reporter
Arman Burias has a multidisciplinary background in copywriting as well as literature and has written for art galleries. He has since transitioned into news writing, maximizing his broad skill set to cover design, gaming, and tech for DesignRush.
