
If a blood donation organization asks for more donations from black people, does that make them racist?
[rebelmouse-image 19474546 dam="1" original_size="500x399" caption="GIF from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."" expand=1]GIF from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
No, no it does not. But it's an argument the folks at NHS' Give Blood in the U.K. have heard one too many times.
In a hilarious, GIF-ridden, informative tweet thread that's since gone viral, Give Blood addressed the often-asked question.
So, people keep asking - why do we need more black blood donors? Isn’t everyone’s blood the same? You’re racist! ISSA THREAD:— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510046617.0
"Do black people have 'special' blood? Are we being racist?" the center asked. "Let's break it down."
First things first: While blood basically operates the same in every body, that doesn't mean it is the same in every body.
"Everyone's blood IS NOT the same," they tweeted. "So you can stop calling us racist."
Everyone’s blood IS NOT the same, so you can stop calling us racist. https://t.co/PtRMQdYseG— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510046850.0
In fact, there are more than 30 different types of blood.
Blood can have more than 30 different types or blood groups. You’ve all heard of ABO, right? That’s one blood group. 🅰️🅱️🅾️🆎— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510046888.0
Blood can also be positive or negative.
And you’ve heard of people being ‘positive’ or ‘negative’? That’s another blood group.— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510046965.0
And O-negative blood is super special because anyone can use it.
mid-thread pause for a shout out to the O negative crew, the donors whose blood can go to anyone. https://t.co/78Wng99YUi— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047016.0
Second, depending on a person's race or ethnicity, they're more or less likely to have certain types of blood.
Blood groups are more or less common in different ethnic groups. So black people are more likely to have, say, B negative blood.— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047066.0
It’s not to say white or Asian people can’t be B negative, or that all black people are B negative.— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047099.0
It just means people from the same ethnic background are more likely to have the same blood groups.— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047120.0
And for blood transfusions to work, you need well matched blood groups. https://t.co/WFfXBg38Xx— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047189.0
Here's where all of that starts coming together.
NOW this is where it gets really important, so please make sure to take notes and stop messing at the back. https://t.co/sZLIQAEqJS— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047232.0
There's a "rare subgroup" of blood that is 10 times more likely to be found in black donors than white donors.
Black people are more likely to have a rare subgroup called Ro. Ten times more likely than a white person. https://t.co/1A6LIMXR5P— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047297.0
Many people with sickle cell disease have Ro blood. https://t.co/x6BxvohlWa— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047344.0
Sickle cell anemia, a genetic condition far more common in black people, is really serious stuff.
Red blood cells are supposed to be round and flexible. But in sickle cell patients, those cells become rigid and sticky. This can block or slow the flow of oxygen to various parts of the body, as the Mayo Clinic explained.
Many people with the condition rely on blood transfusions to stay healthy. But if their blood transfusions aren't good matches, the body can build up a resistance to those transfusions, Give Blood noted in its thread.
Thus, many blood centers aren't being racist when they ask for more black blood donors — they're really just in need of more Ro blood donors.
That means we need more Ro blood to help the growing number of patients with sickle cell disease.— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047774.0
"Why, you may ask, don't we just say we need Ro blood then?"
Why, you may ask, don’t we just say we need Ro blood then? https://t.co/sJlwopdQAK— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047848.0
Most people don't know they have Ro blood until they come in to donate.
Well, most people don’t know they have Ro blood, unless they donate and we tell them. https://t.co/D2PjZS2UwP— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047892.0
It just doesn’t work if we say we need Ro donors, because then you’ll say, What the heck is Ro?! https://t.co/S4H9D3micE— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510047970.0
Most potential donors have no idea if they have Ro blood. But they likely do know what race or ethnicity they are.
However people generally know if they are white, Asian or black https://t.co/iVrT6VmDL0— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048131.0
And black people are much more likely to have the Ro subgroup. https://t.co/1UVowadZrY— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048194.0
So if you are black, hospital patients NEED YOU to help save their lives because we just don’t have enough black do… https://t.co/uaFCGiWrqD— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048376.0
BOTTOM LINE, FINALLY, IT’S COMING. https://t.co/JXOcUeO5KU— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048413.0
Blood donation saves lives, whatever your colour. You could save the life of someone of another colour and they cou… https://t.co/ww1p186VEU— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048477.0
Yes, blood centers need more donors of all races and ethnicities. But it makes perfect sense that some centers — particularly in the U.K., where just 1% of donors are black — would try to solicit certain donors.
And if you are black, please register as a new donor – more and more ill people need your help every day. https://t.co/zWbDJftjaS— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048565.0
So, what are you waiting for?
It's ridiculously easy to find a blood donation center near you. (Psst, it'll usually come with a free snack too.)
Best bit, you get biscuits and a cuppa after each and every donation. https://t.co/Zm4Sc2z70i— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️) 1510048597.0
Help save a life and get some free food? A total win/win.
This article was originally published on November 9, 2017.