As we move into the final weeks of February, digital Black History Month celebrations continue showcasing achievements and engaging audiences in an effort to recognize the lasting legacies of Black communities. This week, Snapchat unveiled a new set of user Lenses that seek to do the same, allowing Snapchat’s user base to interact with Black history facts and highlights while sending Snaps to friends and followers.
The virtual Lenses, which overlay on top of a user’s photos or videos, cover three main themes of the app’s Black History Month celebration. One Lens has a theme of rare and untold stories, sharing overlooked facts about the Black experience and history; another explores history and the promise of tomorrow, recognizing how far communities have come by spotlighting significant accomplishments and future aspirations. A third Lens highlights the theme of diaspora, discussing Black history as it applies to diverse communities around the world and their shared lineage.
Users will find more simple Lens for broad history facts and biographies of Black pioneers. The Tuskegee Lens uses a small animated Snapchat character to share the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, while the Limitless Lens transports users into a futuristic room full of inspiring quotes by Black figures. Or they can even use an AR filter to scan the environment around them for Black innovations, letting Snapchat spot everyday items that wouldn’t exist without Black excellence, like curtain rods and lamp filaments.
Importantly, these interactive Lenses were helmed by an entire cohort of Black AR designers, including the work of Snapchat Lens creators Masharzi McCann, Kathryn Hicks, Lafiya Ramirez, Deia Green, Jasmine Roberts, Pam Taylor, and Enoch.
Earlier this month, Snapchat announced its Black History Month Spotlight Challenge, which awards $40,000 in cash prizes to users who submit their Snaps to the Spotlight Trending page. The company also unveiled a new partnership with Beauty in Inclusivity Association (BIIA), a “brand auditing and certification system” for corporations training in diversity and representation across the beauty industry. For its part, Snapchat will host a BIIA-curated profile highlighting the stories of creators of color.
Users can find the new Lens in-app using the “BHM23” title, on the creators’ personal pages, or by their specific names:
Tune into a Twitter Spaces conversation with the Lens designers on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. ET to learn more about the work of Enoch, Hicks, Green, McCann, and Roberts.
