US Black History Month Search Trends

Every February, US Black History Month prompts reflection, learning, and celebration. A look at recent Google search trends shows what’s on people’s minds this year, who they’re curious about, what historical moments they’re revisiting, and how they’re choosing to engage.

US Black History Month Search Trends 2025

Civil Rights Figures in Focus

Some names never fade from the conversation, and Black History Month helps keep their visions alive. Over the past month, the most searched Black activists in the U.S. were:

• Rosa Parks – A defining figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
• Ruby Bridges – The first Black child to integrate an all-white Southern school.
• Martin Luther King Jr. – The most recognized leader of the civil rights movement.

Interest in the civil rights era isn’t just tied to these names. Searches for “MLK civil rights movement” jumped 130%, and “bus boycott” was among the fastest-growing related topics.

» READ MORE: Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Black Inventors and Innovators Gaining Attention

‍This year, there’s been a surge in searches about Black inventors. One of the most trending names is Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. Interest in her work — and in Black innovators more broadly — suggests people are looking beyond well-known historical moments to explore contributions in science, technology, and medicine.

How People Are Engaging

‍Searches for “Black History Month spirit week” suggest that schools and workplaces are organizing activities around the month. “African-American history” was a top-trending related topic, showing broader interest in historical context. There’s also been a spike in searches for “Maya Angelou poems for kids”, with The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou seeing high search volume. Poetry often becomes an entry point for younger audiences, and Angelou’s work remains a staple.

Celebration Through Business and Culture

‍Beyond learning, people are looking for ways to participate. The most-searched questions include:

• When was Black History Month created?
• How to celebrate Black History Month at work?
• Why do we celebrate Black History Month?

There’s also a strong focus on supporting Black-owned businesses. The top searches in this category were:

• Black-owned restaurants
• Black-owned clothing brands
• Black-owned hair products
• Black-owned grocery stores

Meanwhile, Black artists are drawing more attention. The most-searched names over the past month include:

• Alicia Keys – Singer-songwriter and activist.
• Alma Thomas – Painter known for her bright abstract works.
• Faith Ringgold – Artist and writer, famous for her story quilts.
• Jacob Lawrence – Painter best known for his Migration Series.
• Jean-Michel Basquiat – Artist whose work tackled race, identity, and power (as seen below in 1984 with his fellow NYC artists)

» READ MORE: Badass: Black Female Motivational Speakers 

What This Tells Us

The search data shows an ongoing interest in Black history, both the well-known moments and the people whose contributions are still being discovered by both new and wider audiences. Whether it’s civil rights history, Black entrepreneurship, or cultural icons, the curiosity and engagement are clear.

💡 Would you like to explore the trends of Black History Month with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we’ll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US).

Remember, it’s always a good time to get a PepTalk.