US Black History Month Search Trends

Every February, US Black History Month prompts reflection, learning, and celebration. Looking back at Google search trends from Black History Month 2025 shows what was on people's minds that year, who they were curious about, what historical moments they were revisiting, and how they chose to engage. The figures below are a snapshot of that specific period rather than live data, so treat them as a historical read on interest rather than this year's trends.

Black History Month 2025: What People Searched For

Civil Rights Figures in Focus

Some names never fade from the conversation, and Black History Month helps keep their visions alive. During Black History Month 2025, 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 recognised leader of the civil rights movement.

Interest in the civil rights era wasn't just tied to these names. Searches for "MLK civil rights movement" jumped 130% year-on-year that month, and "bus boycott" was among the fastest-growing related topics.

» READ MORE: Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Black Inventors and Innovators Gaining Attention

That year, there was a surge in searches about Black inventors. One of the most trending names was Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. Interest in her work, and in Black innovators more broadly, suggested people were looking beyond well-known historical moments to explore contributions in science, technology, and medicine.

How People Engaged

Searches for "Black History Month spirit week" suggested that schools and workplaces were organising activities around the month. "African-American history" was a top-trending related topic, showing broader interest in historical context. There was also 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 were looking for ways to participate. The most-searched questions included:

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

There was 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 drew significant attention. The most-searched names over that month included:

• 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

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Black History Month created?

Its roots go back to Negro History Week, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. The observance expanded to a full month on US college campuses through the 1960s and 70s, and was formally recognised by the US federal government in 1976.

Why do we celebrate Black History Month?

To recognise the achievements and central role of Black Americans in US history and culture, and to correct a historical record that had long overlooked those contributions.

How do people celebrate Black History Month at work?

Common approaches include employee resource group panels, book clubs built around Black authors, spotlighting Black-owned suppliers and vendors, and booking an expert speaker to bring context and lived experience to the conversation.

Bring Black History Month to Life With an Expert Speaker

The search trends point to real appetite for context, not just facts: people wanted to understand food history, workplace inclusion, and the scientists behind the headlines. PepTalk's speaker roster covers each of those angles.

Deah Berry Mitchell, a historian and Black foodways scholar, speaks to the searches around African-American history and Black-owned businesses, connecting food culture to the wider story of Black entrepreneurship in the US.

Andreena Leeanne, a wellness expert and inclusion advocate, is a strong fit for the workplace-focused searches, helping teams turn a spirit-week activity into a genuine conversation about belonging.

Dame Maggie Aderin, an astronomer and academic, speaks directly to the surge in interest around Black scientists and innovators like Mae Jemison, bringing that same curiosity about science to a live audience.

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, year after year.

💡 Would you like to explore the themes 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.