This week, Band-Aid announced it will launch a new line of bandages — in light, medium, and deep shades of brown and black — to reflect the variety of skin tones in the world.
In an effort to “embrace the beauty of diverse skin,” the Johnson & Johnson-owned brand is “dedicated to inclusivity and providing the best healing solutions, better representing you.”
Band-Aid also pledges to make a donation to the Black Lives Matter movement, as they “stand in solidarity with our black colleagues, collaborators, and community in the fight against racism, violence, and injustice.”
“We promise that this is just the first among many steps together in the fight against systemic racism,” they wrote. “We can, we must, and we will do better.”
However, many social media users criticized the company — whose product was invented in 1920 by a Johnson & Johnson employee — for the amount of time it took to make a push for diversity.
“This should’ve been done decades ago. This is a performative act,” one critic wrote.
“Haven’t you been around for like 100 years!!! Why now!!” a different social media user commented.
“A few lifetimes late. As if white was the only skin tone in existence until now,” another added.
It’s worth noting that Tru-Colour — a brand that offers bandages in skin tones such as pale white to fair, olive to moderate brown, brown to dark brown, and dark brown to black — has been around since 2014.
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