Watch

Tattoo Artists Cover Up Racist Tattoos

Creator:
Published:
January 29, 2024
June 13, 2020
These tattoo artists are demonstrating how to end racism by offering free racist tattoo cover-ups.|These tattoo artists are demonstrating how to end racism by offering free racist tattoo cover-ups.

These tattoo artists are turning hate into beauty — offering free cover-ups on racist tattoos after seeing what went down in Charlottesville, VA in 2017.

Video Transcript

David Martin: We don't have time to go to a picket line. It's just we have families to feed. We're working people. What we can do is we can cover up racist tattoos, because there's racist tattoos out there.

Narrator: When the staff at Bicycle Tattoo watched the horrifying attacks in Charlottesville, they lept into action. They announced to the public free coverups for racist tattoos. Immediately, they were overwhelmed with requests.

David Martin: We had one person that was underage, who her whole family was involved in a group, and she was given the tattoo when she was 13. We've had a lot of guys that got them when they were in prison. We've had some that were just, honestly, they believed in it at one time.

You just see it in their eyes when it's done. It's almost like you got something that's been in your life that you've been carrying around, and then all of a sudden you don't have that weight there anymore.

Some of these coverups were huge, like thousands of dollars worth of work. My guys were doing these coverups for free just to make sure that it was done. A lot of times, I know with a lot of the swastikas we've been covering up, we've been doing a lot of roses over those. You can take some of those swastika lines and then curve them out and fake it out into the shape of rose petals.

Narrator: No matter how permanent a tattoo may seem, there's always a second chance. With each drop of ink, these artists are turning hate into beauty.

David Martin: When you have something like a symbol of a swastika, it's actually a way of putting down your neighbor to say that this other person's not human, not worth being treated as a human.

I was raised Potawatomi pretty much my entire life. My mother's native and then my dad's white. For me, I can see us all as equal, because we all have a struggle. We should all be joining together so we can keep moving on.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
January 29, 2024
June 13, 2020
On a related note...
Lost Motivation to Hit the Gym? Here’s How to Get Back

Lost Motivation to Hit the Gym? Here’s How to Get Back

Makaela Douglas

The Power of Saying ‘Yes’ to Adoption

The Power of Saying ‘Yes’ to Adoption

Grotto

Why Did This Marshmello Music Video Top 1 Billion Views?

Why Did This Marshmello Music Video Top 1 Billion Views?

Josh Noem

Helping Kids Connect with Nature

Helping Kids Connect with Nature

Grotto

5 Lifestyle Instas that Will Inspire (Not Depress) You

5 Lifestyle Instas that Will Inspire (Not Depress) You

Gabriella Patti

Meet the First ‘Working-Mom’ Saint

Meet the First ‘Working-Mom’ Saint

Emily Bouch

"Clothe the Naked"

"Clothe the Naked"

Barbara Lisette

How My Philosophy Degree Has Served Me IRL

How My Philosophy Degree Has Served Me IRL

Isaac Huss

Choir Raises Money for Cancer Patients in Kenya

Choir Raises Money for Cancer Patients in Kenya

Grotto

Student-Athletes Befriend Kids with Cancer | Little Ways: Outreach

Student-Athletes Befriend Kids with Cancer | Little Ways: Outreach

Grotto

St. Rita of Cascia Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

St. Rita of Cascia Spotify Playlist | #GrottoMusic

Grotto

An Inside Look at the Ancient Art of Iconography

An Inside Look at the Ancient Art of Iconography

Grotto

Why My Workout Motivation Shifted to Mental Health

Why My Workout Motivation Shifted to Mental Health

Maria Walley

3 Ways You Can Help a Crisis Pregnancy Center

3 Ways You Can Help a Crisis Pregnancy Center

Sarah Portner, LMSW

#GrottoChicago | 12 Small Businesses in Chicago Where You’ll Find the Perfect Gift

#GrottoChicago | 12 Small Businesses in Chicago Where You’ll Find the Perfect Gift

Grotto

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Lakeview

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Lakeview

Jennon Bell Hoffmann

Mapping a Journey Through Grief with Picasso

Mapping a Journey Through Grief with Picasso

Julia Weir

From Unseen to Seen

From Unseen to Seen

Alli Bobzien

A reflective narrative by Alli Bobzien.

Dare to Dream: Working on the Moon Landing

Dare to Dream: Working on the Moon Landing

Tamara Stacey

Feast Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Feast Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.