Black History Month- The Google Doodle!

Disability rights advocate and Haitian American model, Mama Cax is the inspiration behind todays Google Doodle.

In honor of black history month, let’s take a look into the life of this amazing women.

Mama Cax was born Cacsmy Brutus on November 20 1989 in Brooklyn New York and grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At 14 Mama Cax was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer and was given two weeks to live. Two years later and still fighting, at 16 she underwent an hip replacement surgery that was supposed to help, however, it only led to the loss of her right leg.

They say time heals all wounds and it definitely took time for Mama Cax to heal. She was open about her struggle to accept her new normal. But, not one to stay down for too long Mama Cax began to accept and love her new body. After hiding her leg for years, she finally began expressing herself wearing more colorful and stylish prosthetic covers and incorporating that into her personal style. She began expressing her love of fashion with hair dyes, makeup, colorful outfits, and the like.

Embracing her disability Cax learned to play wheelchair basketball and to handcycle, even began competing in marathons. In 2017, Cax was in her first commercial and soon signed onto a modelling career and began walking some major runways. New York Fashion Week, Teen Vogue and even Rihanna's Fenty Beauty.

A positive role model, an influence to young black women, and an advocate for the body positivity movement, Mama Cax saw that black women and women with disabilities weren’t represented in the media the way she wanted. She began advocating for inclusivity in fashion, taking to social media and openly speaking on her insecurities.

Her life tragically cut shot due to medical complications in 2019. She’s remembered for breaking the stereotype of what beauty and disabilities “should” look like. She used her social influence to empower and lift others up.

A quote from her family:

"Mama Cax carved a path for herself in the fashion industry and social media sphere. In the face of doubt and uncertainty (both external and internal), she managed to successfully combine her love for fashion and disability rights activism into a career that saw her share her experience and wisdom.... While her time with us on earth was far too short, all those who had the privilege of meeting her instantly valued her great company, her unparalleled wisdom, her crazy sense of humor, and her commitment to making this world a better place. Her legacy can never (and will never) be forgotten. She is sorely missed. Love you forever, Mama Cax." -The Brutus & Vilus Family

Pictured: The Cax Family from left to right: Cassline R. Brutus (sister), Mama Cax/Cacsmy Brutus, Marie R. Vilus (mother), Lei S. Brutus (sister), Sabienne Brutus (sister), and at the forefront of the picture is Ashely R. Brutus (sister)