PopSockets just released a new line for Black History Month—here's where to find them
PopSockets is celebrating Black History Month in a big way—here's what you need to know.
Credit:
Siu-Hong Mok, Getty Images / iStockphoto / PopSockets
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Black History Month is an important time to not only celebrate the historic contributions made by African-Americans, but to amplify the voices and perspectives of Black leaders, business owners and designers.
For Colorado-based artist Jalen, it's also an opportunity to share his work with a much wider audience. Inspired by Solange Knowles' song "Don't Touch My Hair," the 17-year-old created one of four exclusive PopSockets—a.k.a., expandable phone grips—that are available now at Best Buy for $14.99, in honor of Black History Month.
“The first thing I thought about when I thought about making a PopGrip for Black History Month is Black women’s hair—it’s such a powerful thing,” said Jalen. “When I first got my PopGrip, I felt excitement. It felt good to see my artwork on something I know people will see in stores and want to buy.”
For this collection, which spotlights original artwork from four Black teen artists, PopSockets partnered with Best Buy and is donating 50% of each sale to the Best Buy Foundation. This will go to benefit Teen Tech Center programs, which are creative learning hubs nationwide that offer adult and peer mentoring, career guidance and other resources to young people from disinvested communities.
These emerging Black artists are helping inspire others, and you can show off their designs now with PopSockets.
“PopSockets is honored to work with these incredibly talented young Black designers and showcase their art nationwide," said Jennifer Forman, director of corporate citizenship at PopSockets. "It’s through this type of purposeful engagement with underrepresented artists that PopSockets can help create a more diverse and equitable pipeline of future designers.”
Beginning with mood boards, Jalen and fellow artists DJ, Dredrick and Weslyn—each of whom frequent Teen Tech Centers in their respective areas—created unique PopGrip designs that felt reflective of their identities and important themes related to their daily lives.
In addition to Jalen's PopGrip depicting a Black woman with an afro, DJ's design illustrates people of various skin tones coming together in unity, while Dredrick's work portrays a Black king and queen.
“This [project] has helped me see my worth, especially as an artist and a creator," said Weslyn, an 18-year-old freshman at Howard University, who created the final PopSocket in the collection, inspired by Black minds in tech. "With my art, I want to inspire younger girls who look like me to know that they can do what I do.”