Putting A Bandage That Blends In With His Skin Has Brought Up An Emotional Reaction From This Man
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If the thought of not having your color of skin represented in many products never crossed your mind, consider yourself privileged. Last week, one man’s tweet has struck a chord with people on Twitter and it was a learning moment for many. Something as trivial as a bandage has made Dominique Apollon, a 45-year old researcher for racial justice, emotional. For the first time in his life, the man put on a bandage on his cut and it matched the color of his skin. For some, it may seem insignificant but the overwhelming response from people has proved that even the most minor things do matter when it comes to representation.
More info: Twitter
Last week, Dominique Apollon shared a tweet about wearing a bandage in his skin color for the first time
Image credits: ApollonTweets
The man posted two photos of his hand with a bandage on it and tweeted: “It’s taken me 45 trips around the sun, but for the first time in my life I know what it feels like to have a “band-aid” in my own skin tone. You can barely even spot it in the first image. For real I’m holding back tears.” His post has since been retweeted almost 100,000 times and many people chimed in the Twitter thread showing their support and understanding for Dominique.
The emotional tweet quickly went viral
Image credits: ApollonTweets
The feeling of having been represented brought up an emotional response from Dominique
Image credits: ApollonTweets
He later added to his first tweet: “Not like I didn’t know these strips existed. But I definitely didn’t expect the complex emotions that would swirl as I watched it just … blend in. A seemingly trivial exercise I’ve repeated 1000x on my body with “regular” ones since childhood. Self-administered #antiblackness.” Some people have responded to Dominique’s tweets saying that minor things like that were actually the cause that made them aware of their race when they were children.
“This felt like belonging. Like feeling valued”
Image credits: ApollonTweets
In a follow-up tweet, Dominique added “Sadness for my younger self and millions of kids of color, esp[ecially] black kids. Like a reminder of countless spaces where my skin is still not welcomed. Feared. Hated. Like, “Why am I really thinking all this ’bout an effing band-aid?”
For a comparison, Dominique took a pic with his hand with a clear bandage on
Image credits: ApollonTweets
The photo was captioned: “Clear one looks like this on me. It’s a white patch in the middle. But honestly, if you’re focusing on the band-aid, you missed the point. It’s not about an exact skin match for all people. It’s about belonging. Racial inclusion. It’s not about the band-aid.” For those interested in the bandage brand, Dominique tweeted: “Bought these Tru-Colour bandages almost as an afterthought at the online FSA Store months ago, spending down health care my employer thankfully provides. [Don’t know] enough about [the] manufacturer to fully vouch for them, but truly appreciate how valued their product made me feel.”
Numerous people on Twitter have recognized the need for such bandages and representation in general
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Even the English actor John Boyega, who played Finn in two of the Star Wars movies, joined in the thread putting his two cents on the topic.
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For those who didn’t seem to get the importance of skin-colored bandages, Dominique explained that the lack of availability of such products felt like “exclusion through a thousand cuts.” He has also pointed out that it fits a broader pattern of exclusion, such as crayons, lingerie and even ballet shoes that are often named to be flesh-colored or ‘nude.’ “I’m not saying that the industry should be designing bandages with shades that match every skin tone in the human spectrum,” Dominique said. “The point is in a just society, everyone should feel so valued, so embraced, and seen.”
For some, it was a learning moment
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And some were inspired to stock up multi-colored bandages in their workplaces
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The thread on Twitter became so popular, the brand itself that made the bandage Dominique was using, responded
Image credits: tcbandages
Image credits: ApollonTweets
Tru-Colour Bandages, a company that makes bandages in various skin tones, was in fact started by a father who has mix-raced children and was worried that they might struggle with moments of exclusion.
After his Twitter thread went viral, Dominique was glad his voice was heard
Image credits: ApollonTweets
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I never thought that band aid supposed to blend on the skin. This is the first time.
You've never had to think about it, no it's not a perfect match but the manufacturer chose a shade on purpose and that purpose is normally skin color approximation. I empathise with this guy because where I live I'm in the minority as a white person. The local stores have products for hair types etc that aren't good for me, I understand of course, they just carry what sells the most, shelf space gotta turn a buck for them. Still happy to find a single bottle of shampoo for straight oily hair when I can.
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Next time you are about to bleed out, because you got shot by your own skin color....I use a WHITE bandage. You're welcome!
Yeah, there are some even with cartoon characters. The guy is too much. If you are injured and you have a spare bandaid regardless what color, it is a blessing already.
If it simply requires a BAND-AID, shut the fuck up!
I'm Caucasian and I've never had a plaster in my skin tone. They are all this weird red/pink colour or white and you can spot it a mile away anyway, so I prefer the kiddies plasters colourwise, but the quality normally sucks, so I just go with whatever the shops have... Go ahead - vote me down if you must, but at this stage in my life I'm just glad when I find foundation that actually blends...
I'm in the same boat. I've never even considered that plasters were suppose to blend into skin tone because, well, they don't. Given that every part of my body is a different colour depending on the time of year and how much sun it has had, it would be virtually impossible to make plasters that do match. (I know there are bigger issues, but there are also smaller thoughts like this).
Same here! Only just recently I encountered a 'proper' band aid that would match my light skin tone and I was like: "Wow! They finally figured this one out!". Until that point it never struck me they supposed to blend, as they were light brown, pink or white. They would always stand out, and their colour would just get worse after a while.
Same. I'm super white, and never can I get a plaster, or a foundation to match my skin tone. Because I work in the food industry, I have to wear blue plasters (band aids) anyway.
This comment has been deleted.
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Caucasian isn’t a skin tone. There are black caucasians, Asian caucasians, etc. You mean white. I like the “fun” bandaids too but the point isn’t what we like. The point is that bandaids were never made in brown skin shades. Now they are. You have the privilege of having bandaids and foundation that match you. Not everyone has that. I gave up on foundation because I can never find anything with enough yellow undertones. Everything is for pink or brown. Being foundation-free has been amazing though!
I think what a lot of people are saying is that so called 'flesh tone' band aids made for white people do not come close to matching white people. They are so far from flesh toned that we never considered they were trying to imitate flesh tones. For instance, I've never seen plasters advertised in a range of shades like foundations.
I never really thought about it as a race thing and have been using cartoon bandages... and they call it beautiful?? Dude my Digimon is way more nicer!
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It's a band aid. Not a race thing.
I never thought that band aid supposed to blend on the skin. This is the first time.
You've never had to think about it, no it's not a perfect match but the manufacturer chose a shade on purpose and that purpose is normally skin color approximation. I empathise with this guy because where I live I'm in the minority as a white person. The local stores have products for hair types etc that aren't good for me, I understand of course, they just carry what sells the most, shelf space gotta turn a buck for them. Still happy to find a single bottle of shampoo for straight oily hair when I can.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Next time you are about to bleed out, because you got shot by your own skin color....I use a WHITE bandage. You're welcome!
Yeah, there are some even with cartoon characters. The guy is too much. If you are injured and you have a spare bandaid regardless what color, it is a blessing already.
If it simply requires a BAND-AID, shut the fuck up!
I'm Caucasian and I've never had a plaster in my skin tone. They are all this weird red/pink colour or white and you can spot it a mile away anyway, so I prefer the kiddies plasters colourwise, but the quality normally sucks, so I just go with whatever the shops have... Go ahead - vote me down if you must, but at this stage in my life I'm just glad when I find foundation that actually blends...
I'm in the same boat. I've never even considered that plasters were suppose to blend into skin tone because, well, they don't. Given that every part of my body is a different colour depending on the time of year and how much sun it has had, it would be virtually impossible to make plasters that do match. (I know there are bigger issues, but there are also smaller thoughts like this).
Same here! Only just recently I encountered a 'proper' band aid that would match my light skin tone and I was like: "Wow! They finally figured this one out!". Until that point it never struck me they supposed to blend, as they were light brown, pink or white. They would always stand out, and their colour would just get worse after a while.
Same. I'm super white, and never can I get a plaster, or a foundation to match my skin tone. Because I work in the food industry, I have to wear blue plasters (band aids) anyway.
This comment has been deleted.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Caucasian isn’t a skin tone. There are black caucasians, Asian caucasians, etc. You mean white. I like the “fun” bandaids too but the point isn’t what we like. The point is that bandaids were never made in brown skin shades. Now they are. You have the privilege of having bandaids and foundation that match you. Not everyone has that. I gave up on foundation because I can never find anything with enough yellow undertones. Everything is for pink or brown. Being foundation-free has been amazing though!
I think what a lot of people are saying is that so called 'flesh tone' band aids made for white people do not come close to matching white people. They are so far from flesh toned that we never considered they were trying to imitate flesh tones. For instance, I've never seen plasters advertised in a range of shades like foundations.
I never really thought about it as a race thing and have been using cartoon bandages... and they call it beautiful?? Dude my Digimon is way more nicer!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
It's a band aid. Not a race thing.