<p>In a hilarious, GIF-ridden, informative tweet thread that's since gone viral, Give Blood addressed the often-asked question.</p><p><div id="upworthyFreeStarVideoAdContainer"><div id="freestar-video-parent"><div id="freestar-video-child"></div></div></div></p><div id="c431c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="90IP131565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927828876490928128" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">So, people keep asking - why do we need more black blood donors? Isn’t everyone’s blood the same? You’re racist! ISSA THREAD:</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927828876490928128">1510046617.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"Do black people have 'special' blood? Are we being racist?" the center asked. "Let's break it down."</p><p>First things first: While blood basically <em>operates</em> the same in every body, that doesn't mean it<em> is </em>the same in every body.</p><p>"Everyone's blood IS NOT the same," they tweeted. "So you can stop calling us racist."</p><div id="b16b2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="YLY5KN1565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927829855785414656" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Everyone’s blood IS NOT the same, so you can stop calling us racist. https://t.co/PtRMQdYseG</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927829855785414656">1510046850.0</a></blockquote></div><p>In fact, there are more than 30 different types of blood.</p><div id="4b6cd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WCY8YX1565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830015374487552" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Blood can have more than 30 different types or blood groups. You’ve all heard of ABO, right? That’s one blood group. 🅰️🅱️🅾️🆎</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830015374487552">1510046888.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Blood can also be positive or negative.</p><div id="13a8c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UTCHVU1565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830339514458112" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">And you’ve heard of people being ‘positive’ or ‘negative’? That’s another blood group.</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830339514458112">1510046965.0</a></blockquote></div><p>And O-negative blood is super special because anyone can use it.</p><div id="cfc26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="69DFSL1565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830553507844096" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">mid-thread pause for a shout out to the O negative crew, the donors whose blood can go to anyone. https://t.co/78Wng99YUi</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830553507844096">1510047016.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Second, depending on a person's race or ethnicity, they're more or less likely to have certain types of blood.</p><div id="1bbea" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="JOCQJE1565291123"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830762740703232" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Blood groups are more or less common in different ethnic groups. So black people are more likely to have, say, B negative blood.</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830762740703232">1510047066.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="3beff" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Y9R6FA1565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830901840601089" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It’s not to say white or Asian people can’t be B negative, or that all black people are B negative.</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830901840601089">1510047099.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="d5fd1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="FWYH121565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927830986578169856" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">It just means people from the same ethnic background are more likely to have the same blood groups.</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927830986578169856">1510047120.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="b4bb7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="20NCMV1565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927831275615981568" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">And for blood transfusions to work, you need well matched blood groups. https://t.co/WFfXBg38Xx</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927831275615981568">1510047189.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Here's where all of that starts coming together.</p><div id="1f0bd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="FAY9V41565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927831457900498944" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">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</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927831457900498944">1510047232.0</a></blockquote></div><p>There's a "rare subgroup" of blood that is <strong>10 times</strong> more likely to be found in black donors than white donors.</p><div id="c9641" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="PYT6WF1565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927831731394277376" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Black people are more likely to have a rare subgroup called Ro. Ten times more likely than a white person. https://t.co/1A6LIMXR5P</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927831731394277376">1510047297.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="31b43" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WPW3H11565291124"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927831928505602048" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Many people with sickle cell disease have Ro blood. https://t.co/x6BxvohlWa</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927831928505602048">1510047344.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Sickle cell anemia, a genetic condition far more common in black people, is really serious stuff. </p><p>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 <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a> explained. </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><div id="94fa5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="62Q5VV1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927833731523637249" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">That means we need more Ro blood to help the growing number of patients with sickle cell disease.</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927833731523637249">1510047774.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"Why, you may ask, don't we just say we need Ro blood then?" </p><div id="1cfd6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XD8XYX1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927834041889550336" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Why, you may ask, don’t we just say we need Ro blood then? https://t.co/sJlwopdQAK</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927834041889550336">1510047848.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Most people don't know they have Ro blood until they come in to donate.</p><div id="acf03" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="51RRWJ1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927834226040410112" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Well, most people don’t know they have Ro blood, unless they donate and we tell them. https://t.co/D2PjZS2UwP</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927834226040410112">1510047892.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="b1954" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="SCOOKD1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927834552214736896" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 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</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927834552214736896">1510047970.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Most potential donors have no idea if they have Ro blood. But they likely <em>do</em> know what race or ethnicity they are.</p><div id="f44f9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9H4MC01565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927835227363381248" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">However people generally know if they are white, Asian or black https://t.co/iVrT6VmDL0</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927835227363381248">1510048131.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="f76e6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1X3DFD1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927835492816703488" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">And black people are much more likely to have the Ro subgroup. https://t.co/1UVowadZrY</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927835492816703488">1510048194.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="67f5a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6DK5KL1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927836256138121216" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 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</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927836256138121216">1510048376.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="3954e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DVY8ST1565291125"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927836411767730176" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">BOTTOM LINE, FINALLY, IT’S COMING. https://t.co/JXOcUeO5KU</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927836411767730176">1510048413.0</a></blockquote></div><div id="f8feb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="PSXV9E1565291126"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927836678655442944" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 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</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927836678655442944">1510048477.0</a></blockquote></div><p>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 <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41898726" target="_blank">1% of donors are black</a> — would try to solicit certain donors. </p><div id="5f959" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="OEAKYT1565291126"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927837050035949568" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">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</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927837050035949568">1510048565.0</a></blockquote></div><p>So, what are you waiting for? </p><p>It's ridiculously easy to <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donation-centers" target="_blank">find a blood donation center near you</a>. (Psst, it'll usually come with a free snack too.)</p><div id="bdba7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2RY1A41565291126"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="927837183314100224" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Best bit, you get biscuits and a cuppa after each and every donation. https://t.co/Zm4Sc2z70i</div> — GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️)<a href="https://twitter.com/GiveBloodNHS/statuses/927837183314100224">1510048597.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Help save a life <em>and</em> get some free food? A total win/win.</p><p><em>This article was originally published on November 9, 2017.</em></p>
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