Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
When art and activism combine, awareness can be raised to help create real change. That was the mission behind Nikkolas Smith’s piece “Transfusion” that highlights sickle cell disease and the important role that donors who are Black play in providing a compatible blood match. Commissioned by the American Red Cross, Smith sat down with four sickle cell warriors – Tiereny Bell, Dr. Rubin Beaufort, Dreylan Holmes and Erica Hunter – to represent their lived experiences in this moving piece.
One in three African Americans is a match for people with sickle cell disease. Some racial and ethnic groups have higher frequencies of certain antigens. People who have sickle cell disease often receive the most compatible blood from donors in the Black community.
It's estimated that 100,000 people across the U.S. – the majority of whom are of African descent – have sickle cell disease and may require regular blood transfusions to help manage their disease. Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S. It distorts soft and round red blood cells and turns them hard and crescent-shaped, both of which are depicted in Smith’s artwork.
"Take five seconds … make a ‘C’ with your left hand and an ‘O’ with your right … now cross your arms," Smith said. “I want the sickle cell transfusion symbol and hand gesture to be a teaching tool to remind everyone what sickle cell is and to also be a symbol that encourages others to take part in the life-changing transfusion process from damaged cells to whole and healthy cells.”
Nikkolas’ art is part of the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative, which seeks to address health disparities associated with sickle cell disease by increasing much-needed blood donations from individuals who are Black through community partnerships and helping to ensure closely matched blood products are available for patients.
“I was so moved to learn how [sickle cell warriors’] health greatly improves after every generous blood donation and transfusion,” Nikkolas reflected. “My hope is that we can exponentially increase the number of lifesaving blood donations and transfusions this year.”
We’re working with hospitals around –the-clock to meet the blood needs of patients – but can’t do it alone. Individuals of all blood types are urged to make an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).