In mid-2024, Google implemented a significant change to its Calendar application by removing automatic entries for various cultural events, including Black History Month,
Pride Month, Women’s History Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day.
This decision has sparked a considerable backlash from users who valued the inclusion of these observances in their digital schedules.
Google explained that the removal was part of an effort to streamline the Calendar’s functionality.
A company spokesperson stated that maintaining a comprehensive list of global cultural moments had become “unsustainable.”
Consequently, Google decided to revert to displaying only public holidays and national observances sourced from timeanddate.com.
Users still have the option to manually add other significant events to their calendars.
This move aligns with a broader trend among major U.S. companies to reassess and, in some cases, scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Following executive orders from President Donald Trump that limit DEI programs within federal agencies, companies like Google, Meta, and Disney have been adjusting their policies.
For instance, Google has not only removed certain cultural events from its Calendar but also abandoned its diversity hiring goals and changed its mapping services to reflect official government sources.
The removal of these observances from Google Calendar has led to significant user dissatisfaction.
Many have expressed their concerns on social media and support forums, accusing Google of capitulating to political pressures and undermining the recognition of important cultural events.
Critics argue that such actions contribute to the erasure of marginalized communities’ histories and achievements.
In response to the backlash, Google emphasized that users could still manually add any events or observances they deem important to their personal calendars.
The company also highlighted its ongoing commitment to celebrating and promoting a variety of cultural events throughout the year, despite the changes to the default Calendar settings.
This development reflects the complex interplay between corporate policy, political influence, and cultural recognition in today’s digital landscape.
As companies navigate these challenges, the decisions they make can have far-reaching implications for how cultural events are acknowledged and remembered.
