A 45-year-old man had a profound experience after putting on a “band-aid” that finally matched his skin tone, and the powerful message he shared about it has resonated with many others on Twitter.
Last week, Dr. Dominique Apollon tweeted about the emotional impact he had from putting on a Tru-Colour bandage that blended in with his black skin.
Related: Beyoncé’s ‘Homecoming’ Doc Puts Black Excellence On Full Display!
While he acknowledged that many wouldn’t think twice about it, he admitted he was “holding back tears” because it was the first time he had put on a bandage that seamlessly meshed with his hand — something that made him feel “complex emotions.”
He shared:
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. pic.twitter.com/GZR7hRBkJf
— Dominique Apollon (@ApollonTweets) April 19, 2019
This felt like belonging. Like feeling valued. Sadness for my younger self and millions of kids of color, esp 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?"
— Dominique Apollon (@ApollonTweets) April 20, 2019
Apollon, who is the vice president of research at racial justice organization Race Forward, understood that some might find his emotions over a bandage “ridiculous,” but he clarified that the black bandage was “a symbol of a much broader anti-blackness and absence of belonging. Not just for me.”
Many agreed. His initial tweet received over 96,000 retweets, a half a million likes, and thousands of replies from users — including Star Wars actor John Boyega, who wrote:
Yep! On film sets where we get cuts alot, make up artists have to paint it brown to get you picture ready.
— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) April 20, 2019
Some users compared Apollon’s emotional experience to what they had felt doing mundane activities as children, like coloring with crayons:
This was one of the first things that made me aware of “race” when I was a kid. I remember asking my mom about the bandaid color…Also the “flesh” crayon.
— DCasp (@AuRevoir3179) April 20, 2019
Others pointed out that the colored bandages have been around, but aren’t readily available to the masses. One user explained:
Flesh coloured bandaids have been around for some time now as the original tweet indicates; the problem is that they’re NOT readily available in all stores. Every person tweeting in this thread about their surprise can take action by requesting that your local retailer sell them.
— Vote D!ONNE Renée On Election Day!???? (@OnElectionDay) April 20, 2019
The user added that, in addition to pushing their local retailers to sell colored bandages, people should me making similar requests for items like dolls, makeup, skin and hair care products, and flesh colored undergarments.
Related: ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Alum Was Forced To Look ‘As White As Possible’
While speaking to CBS News on Friday, Apollon said the overwhelming response to his post has been “heartwarming and humbling,” but noted that it’s going to take more than colored bandages to have a “truly inclusive society.” He said:
“It’s been heartwarming and humbling to recognize that this has helped give voice to the feeling of racial exclusion that so many people of color, not just in the United States, but around the world feel. We can all work together to create a better society if we just start with calming our defensiveness when others express a feeling of exclusion, and then just listen… I’m hopeful that people of all colors, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, classes, abilities, etc. will recognize that.”
Amen to that!
[Image via Dominique Apollon/Twitter]
Related Posts
-
Categories
