January 26 2022
Update
Apple highlights black voices during Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, Apple is highlighting the work and innovation of black people, amplifying black voices through a variety of exclusive content and curated collections. Throughout the month, users can listen to special episodes of “The Message” on Apple Music 1 that discuss the contributions of black creators to culture and the importance of health and wellness in society; Join new workouts honoring Black History Month on Apple Fitness+; Discover new podcasts from black creators about health, wellbeing, culture and history on Apple Podcasts; And much more. Starting today, customers can also enjoy a special edition Unity Lights watch face and order the new Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop.
Apple Music
Apple Music is launching a campaign on the theme “Music is Healing”. Special episodes of “The Message” on Apple Music 1 will feature in-depth conversations between Apple Music’s Hip-Hop and R&B Editor-in-Chief Ebro Darden and the guests. Radio episodes will contextualize contemporary issues around black health and wellness, highlighting historical perspective, achievements, and contributions that blacks have made to culture. Music programming on the Apple Music Browse, Genre, and Radio pages will highlight different interpretations of themes of movement, black love, celebration, and peace. Apple Music TV will also get full-day acquisitions of music videos inspired by the campaign.
Apple Fitness +
To support users on their health and well-being journey, Fitness + will feature new workouts paying tribute to Black History Month, including playlists dedicated to celebrating black artists, as well as two new meditations led by Fitness + coaches Christian Howard and JoAnna Hardy, focused. On the topics of gratitude and awareness. Throughout the month, users will also have the opportunity to participate in the Unity Challenge and earn a limited-edition prize, by closing their Move episode seven days in a row. The all-inclusive Fitness + coach team will also be wearing the new Apple Watch Unity Braided Solo Loop to celebrate Black History Month.
On February 7, Fitness+ will also launch a new episode of Time to Walk, an inspiring audio experience on the Apple Watch featuring activist Ayọ Tometi, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. In this walk, she talks about how Travon Martin’s murder deepened her commitment to activism, and why changing her name changed her outlook on life. On the same day, Time to Run, an audio running experience designed to help users become more consistent and better runners, will introduce a new episode featuring Fitness + trainer Cory Wharton-Malcolm, as he trains runners across Atlanta, Georgia, with iconic sights such as Martin’s birthplace Luther King, Jr., and the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.
Apple Podcast
On Apple Podcasts, listeners can browse a huge catalog of shows from black creators and about black history, health, well-being, and culture. Apple Podcasts also invited seven potential history-making pioneers to share their critically acclaimed work along with episodes that inspire them. US listeners can explore curated collections from bestselling author, professor and social commentator Roxanne Gay; food writer, entrepreneur, and founder of Wheatstone magazine Stephen Satterfield; former basketball player and sports TV personality Jay Williams; artist and poet Morgan Harper Nichols; Well-Read Black Girl Glory Edim founder of Reading Network; and founders of financial literacy and lifestyle brand Earn Your Leisure, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings.
Apple Watch
Apple has launched a special edition Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and a matching Unity Lights watch face inspired by Afrofuturism, a philosophy that explores the Black experience through narratives of science, technology, and self-empowerment. As part of this launch, Apple supports organizations focused on promoting inclusion in science and technology for communities of color through the Racial Equity and Equality Initiative.
Designed by members and allies of the black creative community at Apple to celebrate the history and culture of blacks, the Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop is the face of the Unity Lights matching generations of blacks in the African diaspora. This design symbolizes the collective belief in the need for a fairer world. The vibrant red and green colors of the Pan African flag appear like light streaked across the black stripe.
The strap is complemented by the Unity Lights watch face, which has been engineered using 2D ray tracing, a technology never before applied to a watch face. Each pixel on the screen simulates the light and shadow falling across it, and the clock’s movement simultaneously detects and hides the light, changing dynamically throughout the day. The Unity Lights watch face can be customized to be a full screen or a round dial, and includes a black and white option, checkmarks, and up to four complications. iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can also show their support for Black History month by downloading Afrofuturism-inspired wallpapers available at apple.com.
App Store
The App Store highlights a full range of apps that enable blacks to enjoy health and wellness in all areas of life, from financial well-being to physical and mental well-being. Apple’s global editorial team will feature inspiring stories of apps, developers, and influential voices empowering safe environments for black communities. Among these individuals and apps are black-owned apps such as Irth which provide maternal health resources for black women; outdoor and nature apps such as AllTrails, Merlin Bird ID, and Nike Run Club, which enable solidarity among members of the Black community through fitness, nature and group self-care; Three daring content creators are using Clubhouse, the social audio app, to level the playing field and raise each other’s level; and games like “Insecure: The Come Up Game” – inspired by the popular HBO series “Insecure”.
Apple Books
Apple Books focuses on black health and wellness by highlighting authors — such as Harriet A. Washington and Alex Elle — who have addressed these multidimensional topics. With collections that explore their work, and other features that recommend the work of black writers across a variety of genres, Apple Books will offer readers and listeners diverse perspectives on the richness of black expressions and experiences.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps users can learn about black history or discover black-owned businesses through curated guides. For users interested in expanding their knowledge of black history, Atlanta discover famous black history sites on Auburn Street, the National Park Foundation highlights national parks honoring black history, the Philadelphia Enquirer gives users a way to discover Philly anti-slavery sites, and Tinybeans charts sites to learn about black history throughout Across Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., Maps also helps users support black-owned businesses with clues from the Celebration of Black-owned streetwear and sneaker stores; EatOkra, featuring food guides from Carla Hall, KJ Kearney, and Pierre Thiam; And The Infatuation highlights black-owned restaurants in cities like Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia.
Apple TV app
The Apple TV app will feature guest-curated collections by iconic black creators and stars — including Natasha Rothwell, Sam Richardson, and others — who have shared what they watch to unwind. Viewers can also explore a range of mood-based groups from rest and romance to deep meditation, as well as groups focused on wellness, spirituality and faith.
Apple news
Throughout February, Apple News readers and listeners have been invited to delve into the important work of today’s top black journalists. Audiences can explore expert reporting and analysis on the Black experience through curated collections, audio stories, and episodes of Apple News Today, a daily audio feed from Apple News available every morning of the week.
Filmed on iPhone
Apple’s latest Shot on iPhone campaign, “Our Stories,” features photos and video of four pioneers connected to black history – from artist to fashion designer, music director and Michelin-starred chef. Each individual shares stories about their inspiration, life work, and philosophy.
Pricing and availability
- Black Unity Braided Solo Loop is available now on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, and will be available at select Apple Store locations beginning Tuesday, February 1 for $99 (we).
- Black Unity Braided Solo Loop is compatible with Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 4 or later.
- The Unity Lights watch face will be available today and requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.3 and iPhone 6s or later running iOS 15.2.
- Apple Watch Black Unity packaging, Apple Store websites and the Apple Store app will feature App Clip functionality for customers to easily download the watch face, or customers can download from apple.com.
- Fitness + is available as a subscription service for $9.99 (US) per month or $79.99 (USA) per year.
Click on Contacts
Makeda Bell
apple
makeda_bell@apple.com
(669) 218-1558
Lance Lin
apple
lance_lin@apple.com
(408) 974-5036
Apple Media Help Line
media.help@apple.com
(408) 974-2042