Petition Urges Trader Joe's to Get Rid of 'Racist Branding'

[Zorro]

The supermarket chain said it was in the process of phasing out names, including Trader Ming’s and Trader José, that have appeared on its international food products.

Trader Joe’s is being urged to follow the example of other national food companies and rebrand products that critics say perpetuate racial stereotypes.

An online petition is asking the company to “remove racist branding and packaging from its stores,” including international food items carrying the names Trader Ming’s, Trader José and Trader Giotto’s. Those products and others reflect “a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes,” according to the petition, which on Sunday had been signed by more than 1,500 people.

“They’re racist because they exoticize other cultures, present ‘Joe’ as this default normal, and then the other characters — such as Thai Joe, Trader José, Trader Joe San — falling outside of it,” said Briones Bedell, 17, who started the petition.

A Trader Joe’s spokeswoman said in a statement that the company had previously decided to get rid of the names and to rebrand its international foods with the Trader Joe’s name.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/19/business/trader-joes-petition.html

Should we now petition those among us named José and Jesus to also change their names?

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Betcha a thousand of them have never been to a Trader Joe's, and the rest...

will sign a petition that "Mama Rosa" insults both Mexicans and Italians.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Thanks for posting this; I hadn't heard they were changing the names. Good for this kid for

getting involved, too. Now if the company would just stop busting unionization efforts...

Should we now petition those among us named José and Jesus to also change their names?

Why?

[grumpyduck]

3. I'm sorry, but this is bullshit.

The first time I saw "Trader Giotto" on one of their boxes, I said to myself, okay, these guys have a sense of humor. Not to mention that names from other countries go right along with the name of the company: Trader Joe's. Trader, as in trading, as in an image of a company from previous centuries with ships going overseas to drop off and bring back stuff. As in camel caravans from centuries ago. Trader. Exchange of goods. Commerce.

AFAIC, Mr. or Ms. Bedell needs to read up on history and civilizations and trade and business before getting on a pedestal and trying to make a name for him or herself.

“They’re racist because they exoticize other cultures, present ‘Joe’ as this default normal, and then the other characters — such as Thai Joe, Trader José, Trader Joe San — falling outside of it.” Kid, get a life.

What's next, close down Chinese, Indian, Thai, Cuban, and all other restaurants that serve "foreign" food because people who eat there are misappropriating a culture? Close down Taco Bell for the same reason?

I repeat: Get. A. Life.

[dsp3000]

4. Agreed. This is an example that conservatives will use to call us sensative snowflakes.

nt