Band-Aid is finally introducing bandages for diverse skin tones
On June 10, Band-Aid took to Instagram to announce that it will launch a range of bandages in a new array of skin tones “that embrace the beauty of diverse skin.”
“We hear you. We see you. We’re listening to you,” reads the caption accompanying a photo of Band-Aids in the new shades. “We stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues, collaborators and community in the fight against racism, violence and injustice.”
“We are committed to taking actions to create tangible change for the Black community,” the post continued.
In addition to the new shades, the company is also making a donation to Black Lives Matter. According to a spokesperson, Band-Aid will donate $100,000 to the movement, which is on top of the $10 million commitment from its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, for “fighting racism and injustice in America” over the next three years.
Band-Aid originally launched bandages designed to match multiracial skin tones in 2005, but the company says the line was discontinued due to a lack of interest.
The June 10 announcement was met with criticism from some claiming that it should not have taken the company this long to become more inclusive.
“If they actually cared, it would have happened years ago,” @newexile888 wrote in the comments on Instagram. “Black lives only matter to them during election years.”
Other bandage brands have taken steps to make more inclusive products. In 2014, Tru-Colour launched a line of bandages in a range of skin tones.
The brand responded on Twitter to the news about Band-Aid’s expanding variety of bandage colors with a reminder that Tru-Colour has been “dedicated to diversity in healing, believing in the beauty of who you are” for six years.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, & we are encouraged to see other corporations jump into this market. Since 2014, we have been dedicated to diversity in healing, believing in the beauty of who you are. #skintones #diversity #diversityismorethanatrend #bandages pic.twitter.com/9AzWbE0RZf
— Tru-Colour Bandages (@tcbandages) June 10, 2020
And, as Twitter user @Such pointed out, you can also purchase bandages in a variety of colors from Browndages, a family-owned business that offers bandages in skin tones designed for people of color.
You may have seen that #bandaid is FINALLY launching colors for black and brown people. What you may not know is that @browndages been selling them forever, is Black family-owned and operated. That’s who I buy from. Buy you Black band-aids from them. ✊🏾 #GrabYourWallet #BuyBlack
— SUCH (@Such) June 13, 2020
What do you think of Band-Aid’s recent announcement?