As digital communication evolves, emojis have become a go-to way for many people to express emotions and emphasize moments — with little faces and images showcasing everything from happiness to fury, love, prayers, sports, activities, and food and beverage items. In celebration of World Emoji Day (July 17), BLK, a dating and lifestyle app, has created a collection of emojis called “BLKmojis” that celebrate the beauty, boldness and power of Black culture.
With emojis that honor modern lingo popularized by Black community, BLKmojis is more than just a new keyboard, it’s a means of honoring the incredible impact African American culture has had on digital media at large.
BLK collaborated with Meaningful Gigs, a platform that connects companies with diverse designers from around the world, to identify an African designer to create the emojis. They tapped Illustrator Wale Adeyeye to execute the vision for the BLKmojis. His work boldly celebrates phrases such as: “It’s Giving,” a term showing appreciation for someone’s look or vibe; “Purr,” a playful way of saying “period,” that emphasizes a point or statement; and “Pressed,” when someone is overly concerned about something trivial.
“Representation in digital and social spaces is essential, and with BLKmojis, we’re excited to offer emojis that truly reflect the language and expressions of Black youth,” said Jonathan Kirkland, Head of Brand and Marketing for BLK.
GIPHY, the popular visual communication platform founded in 2013 that allows people to use GIFs, clips, stickers and more, will promote the BLKmojis on its platform.
“This collaboration with GIPHY not only celebrates our culture but also highlights the importance of diversity and inclusivity in every facet of our social and digital interactions,” said Kirkland.
As a dating and lifestyle app founded in 2017, BLK provides a platform for Black love to spark, thrive and flourish and a safe space for users to be authentically themselves and celebrate their shared cultural connections. With 11 million downloads, BLK is growing across the nation and world as go-to source to celebrate Black love in all forms. The new BLKmojis in collaboration with GIPHY are an expansion of the organization’s goal of celebrating Black culture.
“At GIPHY, we love love. And as a Black woman, I particularly appreciate how this partnership between BLK and GIPHY has the potential to amplify Black love stories and reach a broader audience,” said Lydia Getachew, senior client lead at GIPHY. “GIPHY aims to help people express themselves and make everyday conversations more meaningful, and we’re excited to bring these relevant, timely emojis to the BLK community as part of this campaign.”
For more information on the BLKmojis collection visit BLK Dating App and GIPHY.