Who was James Baldwin? Google Doodle honors writer, civil rights activist for Black History Month

February is Black History Month and to celebrate, Google is honoring American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin with Thursday's Google Doodle.

Baldwin, regarded as one of America's most iconic Black authors, built his legacy on work that explored social justice, with famous titles including "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Giovanni's Room".

"His depictions of Black masculinity in America were as poetic as they were groundbreaking, and they resonated far beyond Black communities," Google said. Baldwin's second novel. "Giovanni's Room," was one of the first to bring in-depth characterizations of homosexuality to mainstream culture, "well before the gay liberation movement had gained steam."

Who was James Baldwin?

Baldwin was born in New York City on August 2, 1924. As a teenager, he followed his step-father's influence and became a junior minister at a church in Harlem. He also got involved in his high school's magazine, where he began publishing poems, short stories and plays.

In 1944, Baldwin's "promise as a writer" earned him a fellowship, according to Google, but he found himself struggling to write his first novel, which ended up taking him 12 years to produce. The novel, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," is a semi-autobiographical story which is now considered one of the best English-language novels of the 20th century.

At the age of 24, Baldwin moved to Paris for another fellowship. While abroad, he wrote essays such as "Notes of a Native Son," "Nobody Knows My Name," and "The Fire Next Time."

Baldwin continued to write essays and novels that addressed racial tensions in America head-on. He wrote "If Beale Street Could Talk" in 1974 and the story was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2018.

"His works provided valuable representation to people whose stories often went untold, and inspired many civil rights leaders who, in turn, made progress in society and impacted generations," Google said.

Baldwin died in 1987 after a battle with stomach cancer.

'Black History Month is not a token':What to know about nearly 100-year-old tradition

Recommended James Baldwin works

If you are looking to familiarize yourself with Baldwin's work, here are some of his most famous literary pieces:

• "Go Tell It on the Mountain" (1953): Baldwin's first novel and widely considered to be his finest work. The novel is based on his own experiences as a teenaged preacher in a small revivalist church.
• "Notes of a Native Son" (1955): A collection of ten essays, mostly tackling the issues of race in America and Europe.
• "Giovanni's Room" (1956): A novel about a young expatriate American's inability to come to terms with his sexuality.
• "Another Country" (1962): A novel that "renowned for its frank portrayal of bisexuality and interracial relations, published in a time when these subjects were taboo," according to Britannica.
• "Blues for Mister Charlie" (1964): A play that served as a denunciation of racial bigotry and hatred.
• "If Beale Street Could Talk" (1974): A novel about a love story set in Harlem in the 1970s.

Who designed today's Google Doodle?

Google credits Baldwin's Doodle to New York City-based guest artist Jon Key.

"James Baldwin's radical and transformative writings and teachings continue to inspire my work and how I navigate the world as a Black Queer person," Key told Google. "His unapologetic stance about his identity was not debatable."

"I was inspired by numerous photos and portraits of James Baldwin working and writing in his home office," Key said. "I was imagining James Baldwin writing 'Giovanni's Room' (one of my favorites) or 'The Fire Next Time' in his home office or kitchen table."

Key told Google he hopes people "take a moment" to recognize the contributions of Baldwin and other literary Black greats that "transformed the literary landscape of America."

How February became Black History Month

Black History Month, a federally recognized celebration, was created nearly a century ago to recognize the “the countless black men and women who had contributed to the advance of human civilization,” according to the Association for the study of African American Life and History. 

It has since become “one of the most celebrated cultural heritage months on the calendar,” LaGarrett J. King, an associate professor of social studies education at University at Buffalo told USA TODAY last year. 

Carter G. Woodson, known to many as the “Father of Black History” came up with the concept of “Negro History Week” in 1926, intended to “both create and popularize the knowledge about the Black past.” 

Woodson chose February because the month coincides with the “birthdays of two great Americans who played a role in shaping Black history,” according to the ASALH website. Those two great Americans are Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

What is a Google Doodle?

Google Doodles are designs that appear on the Google home page.

Google says the designs celebrate a "range of local and international topics" ranging from holidays and anniversaries to trailblazing individuals who have impacted culture.

Google Doodles come in many formats, including static illustrations, animations, slideshows, videos and interactive games.

Who designs Google Doodles?

Google says the team behind Doodles consists of in-house artists called "Doodlers," engineers, designers, program managers, marketers and cultural consultants.

"We also partner with local guest artists and creators from around the globe to help bring Doodles to life," the company says on its website.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY