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LAS14

(13,749 posts)
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:25 PM Jul 2020

OK, how about "PC Joe's" instead of "Trader Joe's?"

See underlined below.

I appreciate the idea that members of ethnic groups have the right to determine what is and is not offensive, but I guarantee you, from direct personal experience, that not ALL members of the groups mentioned below find TJ's names offensive. Some still find them light hearted attempts at inclusiveness.

Maybe they should stop selling ethnic foods, so as not to be guilty of "cultural appropriation."

Sorry, this was e-mailed to me, so no link.

*************
Trader Joe’s plans to remove ethnic brand names from its products as a petition calling for their removal gains steam.

The California-based grocery chain said it’s working to phase out foreign names it has attached to ethnic foods, such as “Trader José’s” for Mexican cuisine, “Trader Ming’s” for Chinese products and “Arabian Joe’s” for Middle Eastern dishes.

“While this approach to product naming may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness, we recognize that it may now have the opposite effect — one that is contrary to the welcoming, rewarding customer experience we strive to create every day,” Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Kenya Friend-Daniel said in a statement.

Trader Joe’s revealed the plans after the launch of an online petition urging the company to ditch “racist” brand names that prop up ethnic stereotypes and treat other cultures as exotic.

The petition — which had racked up more than 2,200 signatures as of Monday morning — also raises concerns about the roots of the Trader Joe’s name itself. The brand was inspired by Disneyland’s “Jungle Trip” ride and the 1919 book “White Shadows in the South Seas,” which both contain racist depictions of indigenous people, according to the petition.

“The common thread between all of these transgressions is the perpetuation of exoticism, the goal of which is not to appreciate other cultures, but to further other and distance them from the perceived ‘normal,'” the petition reads.

80 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
OK, how about "PC Joe's" instead of "Trader Joe's?" (Original Post) LAS14 Jul 2020 OP
PC is a right wing term. marybourg Jul 2020 #1
Ummm... PCIntern Jul 2020 #4
Same initials, different context. No offense intended. marybourg Jul 2020 #39
None taken. Just horsing around... PCIntern Jul 2020 #54
I know. marybourg Jul 2020 #55
You don't have a relative whose first name us PCIntern Jul 2020 #58
Nope. marybourg Jul 2020 #60
Huh? I thought you were a personal computer intern! Who knew! 🤣🤣🤣 madinmaryland Jul 2020 #70
AHA! I have always wondered... Hekate Jul 2020 #75
Railing against "Political Correctness" Nature Man Jul 2020 #2
I guess I should shop at Trader Joe's more often. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2020 #3
They are cheaper than most grocery stores lame54 Jul 2020 #10
They purposely don't carry standard foods you can find everywhere else. marybourg Jul 2020 #40
Funny thing about their prices... I started doing most of my shopping there during a grocery strike Hekate Jul 2020 #74
They're not changing the name Trader Joe's frazzled Jul 2020 #5
From the OP LAS14 Jul 2020 #15
I think that the fact that not all members of the groups involved are complaining is not Croney Jul 2020 #6
TJ's is one of THE best places to work for in the US obamanut2012 Jul 2020 #7
So just straight up amplifying right wing emails now? greenjar_01 Jul 2020 #8
I never understood why people take offense when other people go out of their way not to offend StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #9
I think the OP point is... lame54 Jul 2020 #11
No, they AREN'T demanding they change the company name StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #16
Yes they are - read it again lame54 Jul 2020 #17
I read it and the petition itself. That's why I know it does NOT demand the store change its name. StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #22
Ok - I read the petition itself and - YOU ARE STILL WRONG... lame54 Jul 2020 #24
You obviously didn't read it. Or you failed to comprehend the words StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #26
I'm out - I know what I read lame54 Jul 2020 #32
These threads need a bingo card. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #14
These threads actually need to go somewhere else. They don't belong here StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #18
. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #21
I burned up my 2020 bingo card. Way out of date before the year was even 3 months old. madinmaryland Jul 2020 #71
This is bullshit. grumpyduck Jul 2020 #12
I wouldn't be offended by a product Mossfern Jul 2020 #19
Yosef superpatriotman Jul 2020 #34
I would, unless the brand actually was founded and owned by Moishe himself. marybourg Jul 2020 #42
Ethnic name for an ethnic food. Mossfern Jul 2020 #61
I would be offended. By the way my mom was Jewish and my name is Brian.No Moishes. DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2020 #43
Why? Mossfern Jul 2020 #57
You know what else bothers me DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2020 #63
Ha! Mossfern Jul 2020 #67
And don't get me started about the portrayal of Jewish women as crass and materialistic. DemocratSinceBirth Jul 2020 #68
That, I get Mossfern Jul 2020 #72
Because the ethnic name is being appropriated for commercial marybourg Jul 2020 #66
"Yossel" marybourg Jul 2020 #44
Bingo! Mossfern Jul 2020 #56
There is bullshit afoot - but it's not being spread by Trader Joe's action StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #20
Okay, I'm going to respond to your questions grumpyduck Jul 2020 #28
Interesting StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #30
Maybe you didn't read my last paragraph. grumpyduck Jul 2020 #31
I read it. StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #33
"We don't need to be interrogated here. Especially in that tone." WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #36
Is 'interrogation" the excuse you use when held to your own words? LanternWaste Jul 2020 #62
. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #35
Thanks for stating this so well. nt LAS14 Jul 2020 #51
This is the second thread bemoaning how a petition by a 17-year-old is going after Trader Joe's. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #13
For a long time I thought Trader Joe's was a corporate spin off of Trader Vic's Brother Buzz Jul 2020 #23
Okay, so why is this an issue for you? Happy Hoosier Jul 2020 #25
It's amazing how some white folk feel personally offended whe other white folk "give in" to pressure StarfishSaver Jul 2020 #27
Yeah.... I think it's weird. NT Happy Hoosier Jul 2020 #29
It's an issue for me because if we have to walk on eggs, wondering what the latest... LAS14 Jul 2020 #38
What's great is you don't have to wonder about the "latest acceptable terminology." WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #41
See response 47. nt LAS14 Jul 2020 #49
If you have to "walk on eggs", you're not listening to other people enough. marybourg Jul 2020 #45
What about when different "theys" don't agree? nt LAS14 Jul 2020 #47
Go with being as civil and courteous and respectful as the most sensitive marybourg Jul 2020 #50
Depends on the situation. WhiskeyGrinder Jul 2020 #53
OK. As I tried to indicate in my OP ("from direct personal experience") I was... LAS14 Jul 2020 #77
People typically don't get offended if you ask respectfully. Caliman73 Jul 2020 #52
Seems an issue only for those who want it to be a issue. LanternWaste Jul 2020 #64
So... Happy Hoosier Jul 2020 #73
Oh noes! Not the "PC Police"! jcgoldie Jul 2020 #37
Oh good grief Hekate Jul 2020 #46
I don't know. Joe is a male name and implies patriarchy. Maybe Joe needs to go as well. jalan48 Jul 2020 #48
i'm asian catsudon Jul 2020 #59
If your implicit premise is "where does it stop?" LanternWaste Jul 2020 #65
It should have stopped with renaming Eskimo Pies Polybius Jul 2020 #78
Trader Joe's should re-evaluate where they refuse to open stores - they have refused pleas for years diva77 Jul 2020 #69
Is Rick Bayless next? highmindedhavi Jul 2020 #76
I have shopped there once a week for years and never noticed these names Sympthsical Jul 2020 #79
There there ibegurpard Jul 2020 #80

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
1. PC is a right wing term.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:28 PM
Jul 2020

Dems usually consider the same concept to be one of civility or courtesy or respect.

PCIntern

(25,347 posts)
4. Ummm...
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:31 PM
Jul 2020

It’s been my name here since 2004

Truth be told, it’s from an early handbook for computing. I needed a name, I couldn’t think of one, I looked down and saw PC Intern n on my desktop, literally my desktop, and just typed it. Little did I reckon that 16 years later that would be my name.

Nature Man

(869 posts)
2. Railing against "Political Correctness"
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:29 PM
Jul 2020

is a conservative, racist pastime. It's usually because some white folks are mad they can't use racial epithets freely anymore.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,746 posts)
3. I guess I should shop at Trader Joe's more often.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:30 PM
Jul 2020

I'd never noticed those names.

Actually, I only go there to buy wine because they have good prices on alcohol. Otherwise things seem to be over priced and I can never find standard foods I can find everywhere else.

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
40. They purposely don't carry standard foods you can find everywhere else.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 03:56 PM
Jul 2020

It’s a bit of a shopping adventure! I don’t shop there any more either because, due to celiac disease, I can’t experiment with new brands and flavors. But it was fun years ago when I could eat new foods.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
74. Funny thing about their prices... I started doing most of my shopping there during a grocery strike
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:59 PM
Jul 2020

...quite a few years ago. Von’s workers went on strike, then Ralph’s. TJ’s had just moved into the neighborhood but I had the same notion as you, and had not tried them out much. But I won’t cross a picket line, so...

Turns out their dairy is much fresher, for one thing — I found that out after the strike ended and went back briefly to Von’s. As for the rest, TJ’s sells in small amounts, not bulk. Von’s beef would periodically go on sale, and I took advantage of that when the kids were still at home. God knows what those cows ate — but it was cheap.

TJ’s meats are indeed expensive. I have a hard time making myself pay for grass-fed beef, almost like I am not worthy to cook it. I get rotisserie chickens from Costco. I occasionally buy ham steaks from Costco.

TJ’s selection of cheeses is fabulous. AFAICT same price per pound as elsewhere, but in small quantities, so I don’t break the budget, and also can try more than one kind. They pair nicely with the wines you like!

At one point I calculated that, overall, the prices were fair, it’s just that the packaging is not for big families.

The only items I really need to get from a regular grocery store are Ajax or Comet scouring powder, dog kibble, and ice cream that is not super-premium in calories.



frazzled

(18,402 posts)
5. They're not changing the name Trader Joe's
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:32 PM
Jul 2020

Just the subsidiary ethnic-food brands which use Latinix or Asian names (José, Ming).

The founder of Trader Joe's was a man named Joseph. There's nothing wrong with the name Trader Joe's.

LAS14

(13,749 posts)
15. From the OP
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:56 PM
Jul 2020

The petition — which had racked up more than 2,200 signatures as of Monday morning — also raises concerns about the roots of the Trader Joe’s name itself. The brand was inspired by Disneyland’s “Jungle Trip” ride and the 1919 book “White Shadows in the South Seas,” which both contain racist depictions of indigenous people, according to the petition.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
6. I think that the fact that not all members of the groups involved are complaining is not
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:36 PM
Jul 2020

a strong argument against it. Since the 1970s when I fought to be called Ms. and not Mrs., there have been women disagreeing.

I don't have a stake in this fight but it did open my eyes to names and labels I took for granted, so I'm grateful for that growth.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
7. TJ's is one of THE best places to work for in the US
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:37 PM
Jul 2020

Hands down. It is almost impossible to get a job there except for when a new store opens.

PC is also a right wing term, period.

Why snark about a company like this? Go make an OP about Goya.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
9. I never understood why people take offense when other people go out of their way not to offend
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:38 PM
Jul 2020

We used to call that common courtesy. Now some people behave as if other people choosing to treat people with courtesy is a personal attack that somehow harms or takes something away from them.

Why do you care that Trader Joe's is trying to be a responsible corporate citizen by not offending ethnic groups to which you may not belong - so much that you would take the time to amplify public criticisms of them for it? Is their action hurting you - or anyone else - in any way?

I expect to see this kind of complaint elsewhere, not here.

lame54

(35,138 posts)
11. I think the OP point is...
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:46 PM
Jul 2020

Requesting a name change for their
ethnic items is one thing
But
They are demanding they change the company name

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
16. No, they AREN'T demanding they change the company name
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:58 PM
Jul 2020

They are going to stop bastardizing the name into supposed ethnic names like "Trader José’s” “Trader Ming’s” and “Arabian Joe’s."

That's very different.

As I said, the offense taken by the OP makes no sense - especially here.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
22. I read it and the petition itself. That's why I know it does NOT demand the store change its name.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:10 PM
Jul 2020

I suggest you read the petition before continuing to try mischaracterize what it says.

But I ask again: Why do you CARE?

lame54

(35,138 posts)
24. Ok - I read the petition itself and - YOU ARE STILL WRONG...
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:26 PM
Jul 2020
https://www.change.org/p/trader-joe-s-remove-racist-packaging-from-your-products?use_react=false

It's starts out with the word Demand
It list the ethnically questionable names
And then uses most of the petition explaining where the company name came from which ads "Trader Joe's" to the list of name changes they are demanding
 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
26. You obviously didn't read it. Or you failed to comprehend the words
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:42 PM
Jul 2020

It starts with: "We demand that Trader Joe’s remove racist branding and packaging from its stores. The grocery chain labels some of its ethnic foods with modifications of “Joe” that belies a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. For example, “Trader Ming’s” is used to brand the chain’s Chinese food, “Arabian Joe” brands Middle Eastern foods, “Trader José” brands Mexican foods, “Trader Giotto’s” is for Italian food, and “Trader Joe San” brands their Japanese cuisine"

It goes on to say that the name "Trader Joe" is itself racist, as contextualized by the history of the name, but nowhere does it demand that the company change its name.

You may not like what they are asking, but mischaracterizing what they're asking for doesn't help your argument.

But again I ask you - why do you even care?

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
14. These threads need a bingo card.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:56 PM
Jul 2020

"What's next, __________???"

"Sometimes PC goes too far."

"I'm sorry, but __________."

"This just gives them more ammunition!"

"This is just silly."

grumpyduck

(6,198 posts)
12. This is bullshit.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 12:50 PM
Jul 2020

The first time I saw a box labelled "Trader Giotto's" I said to myself, hey these guys have a sense of humor. Then I realized the label went right along with the company name: Trader Joe's. Trader, as in trading, as in ships going overseas to drop off and bring back materials or products. As in the camel caravans of centuries ago. As in commerce. If someone had said to me that the labels were "a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness," I would have told them to get a life and read up on history, civilization, and commerce.

What's next, somebody starting a petition wanting Trader Joe's to stop selling "food from other cultures" because they're misappropriating those cultures? Then, of course, someone will want to close down Chinese, Indian, Thai, Cuban, Mexican, and lots of other restaurants for the same reason.

And who said that the company is offending ethnic groups? I see people from other countries in there all the time, buying everything and anything, and they DO NOT look offended. Of course it's harder to see this nowadays with all the masks, but they appear to be very happy. The company is not offending ethnic groups -- some people jumped on the "racist" bandwagon and set up this petition. I have to wonder how many of them are from other countries or even shop there.

This whole crock of bullshit really galls me. When I was a kid in school, they used to call history "Social Studies." I never found out why. But one of the things our teachers told us over and over is that the U.S. has been a melting pot since day one, and proud of it. So inclusiveness, as it's called nowadays, has been there from day one. We don't need a bunch of people who apparently slept thru history class to re-invent the wheel and get up on a soapbox to start reciting this bullshit.

AFAIC, all this bullshit is doing is splitting people apart instead of bringing them together. Right now we need to pull together instead of pulling apart.

Mossfern

(2,375 posts)
19. I wouldn't be offended by a product
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:03 PM
Jul 2020

labeled "Trader Moishe's" knishes.
Couldn't think of a Hebrew or Yiddish equivalent to "Joe" besides "Joseph."

Yes, I was taught that our nation was a Melting Pot - but one who's distinct cultures were shared and celebrated.
I certainly can see how they would consider those names for products as lighthearted inclusiveness.

Maybe I don't get offended easily?

Mossfern

(2,375 posts)
61. Ethnic name for an ethnic food.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:03 PM
Jul 2020

I have no skin in this game.
There are more important things to be upset about than this.
I think it's a distraction.

See?
I'm already distracted!

Mossfern

(2,375 posts)
57. Why?
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:01 PM
Jul 2020

What's wrong with using ethnic names with ethnic foods?
I honestly don't understand the kerfuffle here.

DemocratSinceBirth

(99,705 posts)
63. You know what else bothers me
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:07 PM
Jul 2020

The portrayal of Jewish men in movies as diminutive and neurotic as if we are all Woody Allen or Larry David though the latter isn't diminutive.

DemocratSinceBirth

(99,705 posts)
68. And don't get me started about the portrayal of Jewish women as crass and materialistic.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:17 PM
Jul 2020

The whole Jewish American Princess thing.

Mossfern

(2,375 posts)
72. That, I get
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:32 PM
Jul 2020

People make assumptions before they meet me.
I'm an herbalist and an artist - mother of four wild and wacky kids. (Now wild and wacky adults)
Worked in Environmental Affairs and Social Services for my County.

Designer stuff is just a waste of money.

If someone calls me a JAP - I deck 'em.

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
66. Because the ethnic name is being appropriated for commercial
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:12 PM
Jul 2020

purposes by a company/person who is not, and would never be, named that themselves. Otherwise they could name it “Brian’s Knishes”. But they wouldn’t. Would they? They appropriate a stereotypical name belonging to another group which taked their names seriously. It’s like making fun of the names “Juan” or ‘Yossel”

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
20. There is bullshit afoot - but it's not being spread by Trader Joe's action
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:04 PM
Jul 2020

One of the pieces of bs is the "this is so divisive" argument.

How does this "split people apart"? Who is it splitting and from whom are they splitting? Are you personally offended that Trader Joe's has made a business decision not to use certain brand names on its products? If so, why are you offended? How does it harm you? And if you are offended, who does it pull you apart from and why? Are you going to stop working toward racial justice because of it? If so, why?

As I said, there's plenty of bullshit afood here. Maybe you should stop helping to disseminate it.

grumpyduck

(6,198 posts)
28. Okay, I'm going to respond to your questions
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:45 PM
Jul 2020

even though you offended me personally with that last sentence. That was uncalled for.

Pointing out differences instead of similarities gets a lot of people riled up, especially nowadays. "I'm this and you're that." I grew up in an area where everyone was treated the same, with acceptance and respect. We busted on each other for various reasons and did not take it personally. We had a sense of humor and common sense. And the term political correctness hadn't come in yet. Maybe I was very lucky.

I'm not "offended" by the company's business decision. I'm disappointed that they did it for the reason they did. As Bill Cosby (yeah, yeah, I know) said many years ago, "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."

It doesn't pull me apart from anybody, nor does it harm me, and I did not imply that it did.

And "racial justice?" How about just plain "justice?" As much as the term "should" is not in my vocabulary, I'm going to say that justice "should" have nothing to do with race.

And BTW, in case you haven't noticed in your 9,700 posts, this is a chat room. It's all about expressing opinions. Nobody is on trial here and we do not need to be interrogated and expected to answer questions.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
30. Interesting
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:54 PM
Jul 2020

You say "it doesn't pull me apart from anybody" but you complained that "all this bullshit is doing is splitting people apart instead of bringing them together ... Right now we need to pull together instead of pulling apart." So, who exactly is it splitting and pulling apart?

I have found that, usually when that argument is made about "division," the people making it aren't really concerned at all about divisions but are really warning minorities to stop being such a pain in the ass or else white people will stop being their allies and walk away. But if someone feels the need to "split away' from the cause of racial justice because they don't like how some people demand it, are they really on the right side in the first place?

Are you as concerned that racist labels might "split/pull people apart" as you are that the effort to eliminate the racist labels might have that effect?

grumpyduck

(6,198 posts)
31. Maybe you didn't read my last paragraph.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:59 PM
Jul 2020

We don't need to be interrogated here. Especially in that tone.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
33. I read it.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 02:29 PM
Jul 2020

Apparently you think a discussion room is a place where you can express your opinion without being challenged. It's not.

You surely don't have to answer my or anyone's questions. But your consistent dodges and attempts to tone-police only further undermine your already questionable argument.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
36. "We don't need to be interrogated here. Especially in that tone."
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 02:57 PM
Jul 2020

This is a breathtakingly shitty thing to say.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
35. .
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 02:55 PM
Jul 2020
I grew up in an area where everyone was treated the same, with acceptance and respect.
This is certainly a valid perspective. It is also one perspective. I'm always curious whether other people who grew up in the same area would say the same.

We busted on each other for various reasons and did not take it personally. We had a sense of humor and common sense.
Y'all busted on each other for various reasons and *you * did not take it personally. *You* had a sense of humor and common sense. Lots of times, in small communities with similar cultures, those who do take it personally learn to not talk about it and pretend to have a sense of humor, so as not to rock the boat, be ostracized, or worse.

I'm disappointed that they did it for the reason they did.
What disappoints you? What do you lose with this decision?

And "racial justice?" How about just plain "justice?" As much as the term "should" is not in my vocabulary, I'm going to say that justice "should" have nothing to do with race.
Help me out; this sounds like "all lives matter" territory.

Brother Buzz

(36,214 posts)
23. For a long time I thought Trader Joe's was a corporate spin off of Trader Vic's
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:22 PM
Jul 2020

I'm guessing the confusion was over the fact that Trader Joe's seemed to be front loaded with Mai Tai and other Tiki cocktail mixes.



Entertaining whether the Trader Joe's name is PC is pretty low on my list

Happy Hoosier

(7,080 posts)
25. Okay, so why is this an issue for you?
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:26 PM
Jul 2020

If they have evaluated their own branding and come to the conclusion they are not comfortable with it, why would that bother you?

Is it because it doesn't bother you and you're feeling called out?

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
27. It's amazing how some white folk feel personally offended whe other white folk "give in" to pressure
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 01:43 PM
Jul 2020

from non-white folk to do better.

it's like they feel betrayed or something.

LAS14

(13,749 posts)
38. It's an issue for me because if we have to walk on eggs, wondering what the latest...
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 03:44 PM
Jul 2020

... acceptable terminology is, we end up avoiding one another rather than embracing one another and our differences.

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
41. What's great is you don't have to wonder about the "latest acceptable terminology."
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 03:58 PM
Jul 2020

You can ask a person, a message board, or google. The hard part might be listening and incorporating the answer, but that's how we grow. What's great about this approach is that it actually increases connection and communication!

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
45. If you have to "walk on eggs", you're not listening to other people enough.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 04:06 PM
Jul 2020

Listen, they’ll tell you. Read, you’ll read about it.

marybourg

(12,540 posts)
50. Go with being as civil and courteous and respectful as the most sensitive
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 04:18 PM
Jul 2020

“they” would wish.

LAS14

(13,749 posts)
77. OK. As I tried to indicate in my OP ("from direct personal experience") I was...
Wed Jul 22, 2020, 09:06 PM
Jul 2020

... prompted to write my post by a conversation with two Hispanic women. One of them brought up the TJ's plan. Prompted by the responses here, similar to yours, to just listen, I reached out to a Vietnamese acquaintance. She laughed and said she smiled at those products and thought they should come up with "Trader Tran's."

So I repeat. There may be many "they's" and I'm sorry to see TJs cave this early on. There are no stereotypical pictures, like someone in a pancho snoozing against a cactus. Just respectable ethnic names to go with respectable ethnic foods.

Caliman73

(11,694 posts)
52. People typically don't get offended if you ask respectfully.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 04:30 PM
Jul 2020

People get offended when people within the dominant culture expect them to just "deal with" situations that were imposed upon them.

I think what White people need to understand is that this entire society was created for the comfort and success of (primarily rich, but generally) White people and the rest of us have had to just deal with living in a society where our own experiences were not respected and narratives were imposed on us. Cartoon characters like Speedy Gonzalez and Slow Poke Rodriguez, Mammy and Sambo caricatures. Aunt Jemima and other products that use stereotypes to sell products.

People of color had to accept these situations for a long time and just in the last 50 years our voices have become louder and less patient.

I would not necessarily have said, "racist" but those products are racially insensitive. Racist denotes some thing specific which I am not sure that Trader Joe's intended.

We cannot "embrace" our differences if we don't understand and respect them.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
64. Seems an issue only for those who want it to be a issue.
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:09 PM
Jul 2020

The rest of us can navigate daily social interactions with few to no problems.

We're not avoiding anyone. We're not walking on eggshells.

That's on you.

Happy Hoosier

(7,080 posts)
73. So...
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:37 PM
Jul 2020

You don’t want OTHER people to reconsider words THEY use when talking about other people. Because it makes YOU uncomfortable. You sound like my racist m-i-l lamenting that she can’t black people “colored” anymore. Who could be offended by the term “colored” she says...

jcgoldie

(11,584 posts)
37. Oh noes! Not the "PC Police"!
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 02:58 PM
Jul 2020

Come on you should rethink the thread title you are appropriating right wing BS.

catsudon

(839 posts)
59. i'm asian
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:01 PM
Jul 2020

i do not find anything wrong with trader ming's those activists should use their time better on something else

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
65. If your implicit premise is "where does it stop?"
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:11 PM
Jul 2020

You first need to ask yourself, "where should it stop?" and begin from there.

diva77

(7,604 posts)
69. Trader Joe's should re-evaluate where they refuse to open stores - they have refused pleas for years
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 05:17 PM
Jul 2020

from residents of places such as Vallejo, CA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallejo,_California
Demographic profile from 2010
White 32.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 22.6%
Black or African American 22.1%
Asian 24.9%
—Non-Hispanic 25.0%
 

highmindedhavi

(355 posts)
76. Is Rick Bayless next?
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 10:09 PM
Jul 2020

A white male cooking mexican food on tv, shouldn't a person of hispanic descent do his job?

Sympthsical

(8,935 posts)
79. I have shopped there once a week for years and never noticed these names
Thu Jul 23, 2020, 01:11 AM
Jul 2020

Literally never noticed. Meh. Couldn’t care either way. I’m getting the sense corporations are looking for points out of doing the bare minimum possible. “We’ve made our app a different color this week!” Uh, good job?

TJ’s is good for cheap staples like milk, eggs, bread, yogurt, sauces to use as a base, beans, pasta, etc. Their ready to eat meals are somewhat overpriced.

They touch my Curry White Chicken Salad, I’m coming for them.

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