The Conversation: Social Justice and Band-Aids

“Hey, I like these new band-aids. They blend in really well.”

“Well yeah, on you maybe.”

“I don’t care about anyone else.”

“Well…”

“…yeah, I’ve never seen band-aids for African Americans. Do they even make them?”

“I don’t know, but here’s the ultimate slap in the face: The box says that they’re ‘flesh colored’ or ‘skin tone.'”

“Huh. Yeah. You know why?”

“Because white people don’t care about black people?”

“Because we think we’re better than them?”

“Because we want to know when they’re bleeding?”

(And then, after a moment’s thought, I slowly back away…)