Today’s Google Doodle honors Elizabeth Peratrovich, the Alaskan civil rights activist who worked tirelessly for the equality of Alaska’s indigenous peoples and who was instrumental in getting Alaska’s anti-discrimination law passed in 1945.
The search engine giant decided to honor Peratrovich with a Google Doodle – a special temporary change to its homepage logo, commemorating holidays, events, successes and historical figures. They chose December 30th, as they did that day in 1941, after seeing an inside door sign that read “No natives allowed”. Peratrovich and her husband decided to write to Alaska’s governor. They won his support and four years later they laid the foundation for the anti-discrimination law in the territory.
Today’s logo features an illustration by Peratrovich by artist Michaela Goade, who spoke at a lectern in 1945 and testified to the Alaska Territorial Legislature. Behind her is a raven representing that Peratrovich belonged to the Raven unit (one of two descendant groups) as part of the Alaskan indigenous Tlingit clan. The ocean and tree images in the illustration are from the traditional homelands of Southeast Alaska.
The Google Doodle is available to anyone who lands on the homepage of the search giant in the US and Canada today.
Who is Elizabeth Peratrovich?
Peratrovich was born Kaaxgal.aat on July 4, 1911 in Petersburg, Alaska, at a time when the entire area was segregated.
She married Roy Peratrovich, also a member of the Tlingit clan, and the two moved to Klawock, Alaska, where they both played a role in local politics. In 1941 they moved to Juneau with their three children. In the same year, the two worked with others to draft the territory’s first anti-discrimination law. Although unsuccessful, Peratrovich’s continued efforts resulted in a second bill on February 5, 1945 to reach the Alaska Senate. Her ardent testimony in the Senate met with widespread applause and played a crucial role in the passage of the bill.
Today’s Google Doodle of Alaska civil rights activist Elizabeth Peratrovich.
Google
Fran Ulmer, former lieutenant governor of Alaska, described Peratrovich’s testimony in 1992.
“She talked about herself, her friends, her children, and the cruel treatment that made Alaska Natives a second-class existence. She told the Senate what it means not to be able to buy a home in a decent neighborhood because Natives can’t You were allowed to live there. She described how children feel when they are denied entry to cinemas or how they see signs in shop windows that read “No dogs or natives allowed”, ”she wrote.
In 1988, the Alaska State Legislature established February 16 as Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.
Betsy Peratrovich, granddaughter of the civil rights activist, shared her thoughts on her legacy with Google. “You and my grandpa Roy were quite a team,” she said. “He was happy to do her credit as she kept inspiring him to improve the lives of the Alaskan indigenous people.
“But my father says they both sat at the dinner table at night, typing letters, writing speeches and practicing, and developing strategies on how best to ensure equality for everyone,” she added.
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