Putting A Bandage That Blends In With His Skin Has Brought Up An Emotional Reaction From This Man
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
Image credits: BoozyBrownGirl
Image credits: JohnBoyega
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.
Image credits: OnElectionDay
Image credits: littl3stitious
Image credits: markliterally
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
Image credits: MGENBlog
Image credits: mikemorigeau
Image credits: mrssarakirby
Image credits: LSpencerEdD
And some were inspired to stock up multi-colored bandages in their workplaces
Image credits: Jenn_Washam
Image credits: ChristaChatfiel
Image credits: mikeaustinwest
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
82Kviews
Share on FacebookI 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.
Load More Replies...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).
Load More Replies...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!
i just hope that the band aids are not more expensive than normal bandaids
Well considering any colour that deviates from the standard version is more expensive, I'd say so. We have colourful ones for the kids and other brands have patterns on them or cartoon characters. We have to pay extra for those.
Load More Replies...I always thought they were that colour because it's medical so you want it to look clean. It's why bandages are white.
There are different kinds. The clear ones are plain white in the middle because the gauze part is always white. The beige ones were made to match light to medium skin, though in practice, the standard bandage has a weird pinkish tone to it that doesn't match anyone.
Load More Replies...In my country they're usually a beige salmon kind of colour, they're clearly supposed to kinda resemble skin-colour. Yes, they're never a really good fit because barely anyone is the exact average, most people are darker or lighter than average, but they're clearly designed to not stand out too much on the average skin of caucasians. Otherwise they wouldn't be this weird beige colour, but just actual white, or grey or something. I hope a lot of stores will sell these, so people of other ethnicities can feel like stores care about them as customers as well. Because yeah they are only band-aids, but I think all of these small, seemingly meaningless things together can definitely make people of other ethnicities feel kinda excluded.
This is why people who work in the food preparation industry wear blue plasters/band-aids; because they're all secretly Smurfs...
I'm Asian and the band-aid never blends in with my skin. It's always too light or too pink-ish. And the woven fabric ones give me a reaction.
Awww, you do belong!! I’m glad that he’s happy and feels accepted. Small things add up.
Bloody hell, that is a GOLDEN COMMERCIAL IDEA! Wish I thought of that!
WTF so does that mean normal bandaids are meant to represent a typical caucasian skin tone? That's hilarious, because they don't.
As a retired nurse I have to admit that the only thing I care about with a bandaid is that it covers the wound and sticks. I have yet as a Caucasian had a bandaid that matched my skin tone even the clear ones have a white cloth center piece that does not match white skin. There are far bigger and more important things in life than bandaid color to me. Also, I think the reason medical supplies are done in white is for quick assessment (like bleeding, drainage fluid) and cleanliness so that at a glance you can tell if the bandaid or bandage/dressing is clean.
I'm not PoC or white, no band aid has ever matched me or blended in, this is the first I hear that ti's supposed to do that.
I remember when I was young, my best friend, Valencia, used to scrape her knees and elbows all the time as did I when we would play outside. Her skin was a rich chocolate color and mine was either cream, red or light tan depending on how much I played in the sun. When I would get her a band aid, I always would color it in to match her skin tone. Never gave any thought about it really, just always did it. She would color mine too now that I think about it. I am happy they have the true color bandages now. <3
Never thought about bandaids. I grew up in a mixed neighborhood where all us kids got along. I too wondered why the crayons only had one flesh color or asking my mother why wasn’t there more black people on tv and was told because they didn’t have makeup to wear. I guess she didn’t want to introduce me to prejudice but she had to when I first read Huckleberry Finn. Back then the original text had a scene where men ask each other if anyone had been killed- their reply was no just a n—er. I knew the word, I knew they were people and after getting an explanation I realized for the first time that there was prejudice in life. Being white I have felt it from both sides. From other whites, from blacks - I thought we took great strides in the sixties with civil rights. Mr King was a great man I had the pleasure of knowing for a few days before his terrible end. Today it seems that the young want to see racism in every thing instead of if it’s there changing it.
Well, I'm very very pale. Regular band-aids are too dark for my skin tone. So I usually buy Batman etc. I had a box of Harry Potter band-aids that I loved but they discontinued those 😥
When the f**k have band aids been white people skin color. F**k this cry baby.
He must go completely batshit crazy when it snows out side.... What a tool.
I sure hope they aren't marked up more than "white people" bandaids....they better be the same damn price!
Travelling around the world for a band aid? I know why he did it, but out of context...
No it means 45 years. 45 trips around the sun, it takes 365 days for the world to travel around the sun. I was confused too though.
Load More Replies...Wow. Women and privilege are going into products now. Great job guys.
Look at all the white people in the comments section hastening to tell black folk how wrong they are. When someone tells you how they feel about something, our job is simply to listen. That's the first step to fixing racial inequality: just listen.
The first time I had this pointed out to me was in Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses book, set in a world where whites are not the dominant race.
I am so happy for you . I do know what it is like to be overcome to dropping to the knees in tears being happy, and that said , and me a Sensitive , I felt your joy.
Reminds me of what I heard and saw after President Barack Obama won the presidency. I will never forget the women of color sitting on a couch waiting for the official announcement. Amid the tears and cheers, a woman said "now we are really free".
I'll take: "Things this privileged white person never considered before, Alex."
This makes me think of cool gay friendly welcome and hiring sign: https://amzn.to/2PD33Oc and https://amzn.to/2GQ3Lox
Okay let me say that bandaids are beige because Caucasian people are more predominate than African Americans. In some areas though that’s not correct. But economically it makes sense that a bandaid company would make the color of bandaids for whomever is the majority. That’s great that he feels a belonging.. but he’s making something racist that wasn’t racist to begin with... that’s just capitalism folks.
Well there clearly is a demand for band-aids in other colours and it's not like they are only allowed to sell one colour, the one that's tailored to the majority.
Load More Replies...The people saying they never even considered that it was supposed to match skin tone...that's our privilege. It's close enough that we never even thought about it. I think this is amazing, a small step that makes a big difference for people.
I suppose what intrigues me most about it is that, checking with my middle eastern and African friends, plasters are made pink even in countries where the majority of the population are not pink-skinned. It is just the globally accepted colour of medical devices. Obviously it started because of the dominance of western medicine, but they are not seen in these countries as attempting to imitate flesh colours. I still don't think skin-shade is considered much of an active consideration for plaster manufactures, but I can appreciate the historical legacy that marks me - as one of the pink-skinned ones - as mainstream and brown as outside normal consideration.
Load More Replies...YEARS AGO, I was amazed that band-aids and ace bandages came in only caucasian colors - So pleased to see this - but it took WAY TOO LONG
When a grow man talks about tearing up I just have to let out a big sigh..... I'm allergic to plaster products and work in construction so my first aid consists of paper towels and duct tape. Sorry I haven't got a tale of woe that ends up with me being emotionally scarred for life.... My bad.
That’s one of the most idiotic things I’ve heard of this week. It’s great there are skin-tone bandaids, which help you conceal the scratch for, say, business meetings purposes, or when you’re dealing directly with customers. But why would anyone turn it into a race thing? Since when does the “white” bandaid ever resemble ANYONE’s skin colour?? Wearing it white people don’t feel “included”, in their right”, don’t feel confirmed in their imaginary superiority with the “white” bandaid, “as God intended it to be”. It’s a piece of medical supply. Expecting it to reflect a complexity that is cultural background is a misunderstanding. Unless the author of the post really is reducing his black heritage to a piece of strap. Making it a race thing is false empowerment, is entitled and, frankly speaking, plain moronic.
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.
Load More Replies...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).
Load More Replies...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!
i just hope that the band aids are not more expensive than normal bandaids
Well considering any colour that deviates from the standard version is more expensive, I'd say so. We have colourful ones for the kids and other brands have patterns on them or cartoon characters. We have to pay extra for those.
Load More Replies...I always thought they were that colour because it's medical so you want it to look clean. It's why bandages are white.
There are different kinds. The clear ones are plain white in the middle because the gauze part is always white. The beige ones were made to match light to medium skin, though in practice, the standard bandage has a weird pinkish tone to it that doesn't match anyone.
Load More Replies...In my country they're usually a beige salmon kind of colour, they're clearly supposed to kinda resemble skin-colour. Yes, they're never a really good fit because barely anyone is the exact average, most people are darker or lighter than average, but they're clearly designed to not stand out too much on the average skin of caucasians. Otherwise they wouldn't be this weird beige colour, but just actual white, or grey or something. I hope a lot of stores will sell these, so people of other ethnicities can feel like stores care about them as customers as well. Because yeah they are only band-aids, but I think all of these small, seemingly meaningless things together can definitely make people of other ethnicities feel kinda excluded.
This is why people who work in the food preparation industry wear blue plasters/band-aids; because they're all secretly Smurfs...
I'm Asian and the band-aid never blends in with my skin. It's always too light or too pink-ish. And the woven fabric ones give me a reaction.
Awww, you do belong!! I’m glad that he’s happy and feels accepted. Small things add up.
Bloody hell, that is a GOLDEN COMMERCIAL IDEA! Wish I thought of that!
WTF so does that mean normal bandaids are meant to represent a typical caucasian skin tone? That's hilarious, because they don't.
As a retired nurse I have to admit that the only thing I care about with a bandaid is that it covers the wound and sticks. I have yet as a Caucasian had a bandaid that matched my skin tone even the clear ones have a white cloth center piece that does not match white skin. There are far bigger and more important things in life than bandaid color to me. Also, I think the reason medical supplies are done in white is for quick assessment (like bleeding, drainage fluid) and cleanliness so that at a glance you can tell if the bandaid or bandage/dressing is clean.
I'm not PoC or white, no band aid has ever matched me or blended in, this is the first I hear that ti's supposed to do that.
I remember when I was young, my best friend, Valencia, used to scrape her knees and elbows all the time as did I when we would play outside. Her skin was a rich chocolate color and mine was either cream, red or light tan depending on how much I played in the sun. When I would get her a band aid, I always would color it in to match her skin tone. Never gave any thought about it really, just always did it. She would color mine too now that I think about it. I am happy they have the true color bandages now. <3
Never thought about bandaids. I grew up in a mixed neighborhood where all us kids got along. I too wondered why the crayons only had one flesh color or asking my mother why wasn’t there more black people on tv and was told because they didn’t have makeup to wear. I guess she didn’t want to introduce me to prejudice but she had to when I first read Huckleberry Finn. Back then the original text had a scene where men ask each other if anyone had been killed- their reply was no just a n—er. I knew the word, I knew they were people and after getting an explanation I realized for the first time that there was prejudice in life. Being white I have felt it from both sides. From other whites, from blacks - I thought we took great strides in the sixties with civil rights. Mr King was a great man I had the pleasure of knowing for a few days before his terrible end. Today it seems that the young want to see racism in every thing instead of if it’s there changing it.
Well, I'm very very pale. Regular band-aids are too dark for my skin tone. So I usually buy Batman etc. I had a box of Harry Potter band-aids that I loved but they discontinued those 😥
When the f**k have band aids been white people skin color. F**k this cry baby.
He must go completely batshit crazy when it snows out side.... What a tool.
I sure hope they aren't marked up more than "white people" bandaids....they better be the same damn price!
Travelling around the world for a band aid? I know why he did it, but out of context...
No it means 45 years. 45 trips around the sun, it takes 365 days for the world to travel around the sun. I was confused too though.
Load More Replies...Wow. Women and privilege are going into products now. Great job guys.
Look at all the white people in the comments section hastening to tell black folk how wrong they are. When someone tells you how they feel about something, our job is simply to listen. That's the first step to fixing racial inequality: just listen.
The first time I had this pointed out to me was in Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses book, set in a world where whites are not the dominant race.
I am so happy for you . I do know what it is like to be overcome to dropping to the knees in tears being happy, and that said , and me a Sensitive , I felt your joy.
Reminds me of what I heard and saw after President Barack Obama won the presidency. I will never forget the women of color sitting on a couch waiting for the official announcement. Amid the tears and cheers, a woman said "now we are really free".
I'll take: "Things this privileged white person never considered before, Alex."
This makes me think of cool gay friendly welcome and hiring sign: https://amzn.to/2PD33Oc and https://amzn.to/2GQ3Lox
Okay let me say that bandaids are beige because Caucasian people are more predominate than African Americans. In some areas though that’s not correct. But economically it makes sense that a bandaid company would make the color of bandaids for whomever is the majority. That’s great that he feels a belonging.. but he’s making something racist that wasn’t racist to begin with... that’s just capitalism folks.
Well there clearly is a demand for band-aids in other colours and it's not like they are only allowed to sell one colour, the one that's tailored to the majority.
Load More Replies...The people saying they never even considered that it was supposed to match skin tone...that's our privilege. It's close enough that we never even thought about it. I think this is amazing, a small step that makes a big difference for people.
I suppose what intrigues me most about it is that, checking with my middle eastern and African friends, plasters are made pink even in countries where the majority of the population are not pink-skinned. It is just the globally accepted colour of medical devices. Obviously it started because of the dominance of western medicine, but they are not seen in these countries as attempting to imitate flesh colours. I still don't think skin-shade is considered much of an active consideration for plaster manufactures, but I can appreciate the historical legacy that marks me - as one of the pink-skinned ones - as mainstream and brown as outside normal consideration.
Load More Replies...YEARS AGO, I was amazed that band-aids and ace bandages came in only caucasian colors - So pleased to see this - but it took WAY TOO LONG
When a grow man talks about tearing up I just have to let out a big sigh..... I'm allergic to plaster products and work in construction so my first aid consists of paper towels and duct tape. Sorry I haven't got a tale of woe that ends up with me being emotionally scarred for life.... My bad.
That’s one of the most idiotic things I’ve heard of this week. It’s great there are skin-tone bandaids, which help you conceal the scratch for, say, business meetings purposes, or when you’re dealing directly with customers. But why would anyone turn it into a race thing? Since when does the “white” bandaid ever resemble ANYONE’s skin colour?? Wearing it white people don’t feel “included”, in their right”, don’t feel confirmed in their imaginary superiority with the “white” bandaid, “as God intended it to be”. It’s a piece of medical supply. Expecting it to reflect a complexity that is cultural background is a misunderstanding. Unless the author of the post really is reducing his black heritage to a piece of strap. Making it a race thing is false empowerment, is entitled and, frankly speaking, plain moronic.
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