Apple is celebrating Black History Month with a focus on Black health and wellness. Throughout February, customers are encouraged to join celebratory workouts, discover new podcasts, and buy exclusive products and services.
That includes a new watch face and wristband, which build on last year’s limited-edition red, green, and black Unity Apple Watch and corresponding wallpaper.
Inspired by Afrofuturism (a philosophy exploring the Black experience through science, technology, and self-empowerment) and designed by members of Apple’s Black creative community, the new Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and matching Unity Lights watch face “honors generations of Black people across the African diaspora,” the company said.
Each $99 band is created by weaving together 16,000 recycled yarn and silicone threads, with the vibrant red and green of the Pan-African flag sprinkled into the braids. The same colors are found in the Unity Lights watch face, created using 2D ray tracing to simulate movement of the clock hands through light and shadow.
No Apple Watch? No problem. iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can show their solidarity during Black History Month by downloading Afrofuturism-inspired wallpapers online.
“This collection, and the organizations it supports, is only a small part of the commitment Apple has made to challenge systemic barriers that exist for communities of color, and particularly for the Black community,” the company website said of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which benefits from the sales of products like these.
Apple is pulling out all the stops for Black History Month, offering something for everyone from its Music, Fitness+, Podcasts, App Store, Books, Maps, TV, and News platforms. Its latest Shot on iPhone campaign, dubbed “Our Stories,” even features portraits and video of four Black pioneers sharing stories about their inspiration, life’s work, and philosophy.
