In a significant shift, Google has announced the removal of several culturally significant events from its default calendar listings, sparking considerable debate about the implications for diversity and inclusion in technology. Notable observances such as Black History Month, Pride Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day will no longer appear automatically, as confirmed by Google spokesperson Madison Cushman Veld. This decision aligns with a broader trend among major tech companies to reassess diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, raising questions about the ongoing commitment to representing cultural diversity in digital spaces. As society grapples with these changes, the impact on public awareness and celebration of diverse histories becomes increasingly pertinent.
| Event | Removed from Calendar | Reason for Removal | User Options | Related Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black History Month | Yes | Not scalable or sustainable to maintain multiple cultural moments. | Users can manually add events. | Name change of Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for U.S. users. |
| Pride Month | Yes | Feedback indicated missing events and countries. | Users can manually add events. | Changes noticed alongside rollback on DEI efforts. |
| Jewish Heritage Month | Yes | Maintenance was not scalable. | Users can manually add events. | Major tech companies reassessing DEI measures. |
| Indigenous Peoples Month | Yes | Scaling issues with cultural moments. | Users can manually add events. | Changes in DEI programs by major tech companies. |
| Holocaust Remembrance Day | Yes | Not sustainable to maintain all events. | Users can manually add events. | Tech companies scaling back DEI initiatives. |
| Hispanic Heritage Month | Yes | Feedback on missing events. | Users can manually add events. | DEI efforts being reassessed or eliminated. |
Google’s Calendar Changes: An Overview
Recently, Google has made significant changes to its calendar by removing events like Black History Month and Pride Month from the default listings. This decision has sparked conversations about representation and visibility of important cultural moments. The Google spokesperson, Madison Cushman Veld, explained that this change will take effect in mid-2024, focusing on public holidays and national observances as listed by timeanddate.com.
These updates reflect a shift in how Google manages its calendar events. Users may feel disappointed as notable celebrations like Jewish Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples Month will no longer appear automatically. However, the spokesperson reassured users that they can still manually add important dates to their calendars, ensuring they can keep track of events meaningful to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What events has Google removed from its calendar?
Google has removed events like Black History Month, Pride Month, and others from its default calendar listings.
Why did Google change its calendar settings?
Google found it unsustainable to manually manage many cultural events globally and decided to revert to listing only official public holidays.
Can I still add events to my Google Calendar?
Yes! Users can manually add important events to their Google Calendar even after the recent changes.
What other notable events were removed from Google Calendar?
Events like Jewish Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day were also removed.
What did Google change about the Gulf of Mexico?
Google rebranded the Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America’ for U.S. users, following an executive order.
What does DEI stand for?
DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which are values many tech companies are reassessing or reducing.
Why is this change in Google’s calendar significant?
This change reflects a broader trend among major tech companies scaling back on DEI initiatives, raising concerns about cultural representation.
Summary
Google has recently removed significant cultural events like Black History Month and Pride Month from its default calendar listings. Other events taken off include Jewish Heritage Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. A Google spokesperson explained that maintaining a wide range of cultural moments was not sustainable, leading to this decision. Users can still add important dates manually. This change comes alongside a controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” and reflects a broader trend among major tech companies like Google and Meta to reassess their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
