In celebration of the Black culture and community during Black History Month, Apple has launched the 2023 Black Unity collection and content including a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop band, matching watchOS and iOS wallpaper, and more.
In the United States, Black History Month is celebrated from February 1st to March 1st every year. It is also called African American History Month, it is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the achievements and voices from Black History.
And every year, Apple celebrates the month by releasing special-edition merchandise, and content on App Store, Music, Books, Podcasts, and its other services.
Apple’s 2023 Black Unity collection price and availability
- The 2023 Black Unity Sport Loop is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes. It is compatible with Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4 or later, and Apple Watch Ultra (45mm band only). The new band can be ordered on apple.com and the Apple Store app today for $49 with delivery beginning Jan 24.
- The new Unity 2023 watch face will be available on watchOS 9.3 and iOS 16 starting next week.
- New Unity iPhone wallpaper for the Lock Screen will be available on iOS 16.3 next week.
Here is all the exclusive Black history content you will find on Apple services
- TV app features a new collection of series and films with the theme of “The Matter of Black Lives,” including stories illustrating three specific pillars: “Freedom in Black,” “Love in Spite Of,” and “The Mosaic.” The 2023 collection is curated by Dr. Jelani Cobb, dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism and a staff writer at The New Yorker.
- Music adds the “For Us, By Us” playlist which honors Black artists who contribute music and culture with their expressions of resistance and resilience. The service also features new episodes of The Message and radio programming on Apple Music 1, Country, and HITS.
- Created by Smithsonian, Maps feature a series of Guides to highlight key landmarks related to the struggle for civil rights over the past century (1900-1957, 1960-1978, 1980-2020) so users can learn about people, places, and events that shaped the nation’s history.
- App Store’s spotlight game for the month is Dot’s Home. This 2022 App Store Award-winning game is created to educate users on housing disparities experienced in communities of color. It also spreads awareness of financial wellness apps to empower the community like CapWat and Goalsetter.
- Fitness+ introduces new workouts featuring playlists by Black artists and meditation dedicated to Black History Month. On Jan 30, a new episode of Time to Walk with singer Patti LaBelle will debut.
- From February 1, Podcasts will release shows from Bridget Todd, Bob the Drag Queen, Monét X Chang, and other creators which showcase the ways Black music, spaces, media, and theory influence the understanding of people and the world.
- Throughout the month, Books will showcase its Read More Black Authors collection featuring great books and audiobooks from different genres.
- News will feature audio stories, articles, and interviews about the Black experience in the United States throughout the month from Black-led newsrooms like NewsOne, Howard University’s The Hilltop, and others.
Furthermore, as part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI), Apple has also announced the support of five organizations that are working on uplifting Black and Brown communities through technology.
Apple is supporting Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney), Ghetto Film School (New York, Los Angeles, London), Music Forward (Los Angeles), Shout Mouse Press (Washington, D.C.), and The National Museum of African American Music (Nashville, Tennessee). Apple’s support for these organizations is a continuation of REJI grants over the past two years that helped organizations committed to providing economic, educational, and creative opportunities in communities of color.
