Uncle Ben's follows Aunt Jemima in move to phase out racial stereotypes in logos

[brooklynite]

Source: WGCL-TV

CNN) - Uncle Ben's owner Mars is planning to change the rice maker's "brand identity."

In a statement on its website Wednesday, Mars wrote that "now is the right time to evolve the Uncle Ben's brand, including its visual brand identity, which we will do."

"We don't yet know what the exact changes and timing will be, but we are evaluating all possibilities," Mars added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Quaker Oats announced it's retiring the 130-year-old Aunt Jemima brand and logo. "As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers' expectations," the Pepsi-owned company said in a statement.

The moves are an acknowledgment of the brands' origins in racist stereotypes, a consideration brought to the forefront during the nationwide reckoning on race following the death of George Floyd in police custody.

Read more: https://www.cbs46.com/uncle-bens-follows-aunt-jemima-in-move-to-phase-out-racial-stereotypes-in-logos/article_f0a1529c-daec-5992-b907-061e2aaca12d.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_cbs46

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Some history:

How did his face get on the box? Did he start his own company? Well, no. That's not even his face on the box. The face on the box was a man from Chicago named Frank Brown. Frank Brown was a maitre d' at a Chicago restaurant that Gordon L. Harwell frequented in the 1940's. Harwell would later go on to start the Uncle Ben's Converted Rice Company. Anyway, Harwell wanted a face that would sell rice. Black characters were very popular on food products at the turn of the 20th Century because it gave the consumer the illusion that it was straight from "Uncle" and "Aunties" kitchen (good ol' black southern cooking). So, the next time you have yourself a bowl of Uncle Ben's rice just think about that little rice farmer from around Houston that some folks called "Uncle Ben."

https://www.morphologicalconfetti.com/2006/02/frank-brown-aka-uncle-ben.html

[Kablooie]

1. Colgate did this with toothpaste back in 1989

Though it's surprising that waited that long.
(Colgate owns Hawley&Hazel.)

?w=640&h=918

[marybourg]

4. I've been doing household shopping since 1962.

I’ve never seen that product in any regular grocery or drug store. I won’t swear that it wasn’t sold in 1950’s-1990’s tourist and novelty stores in Times Square.

[cstanleytech]

7. According to wiki its sold largely in Asia and Colgate bought the company that makes it in 85.

[marybourg]

9. That makes more sense.

[Kablooie]

13. I have a tube of it I bought in Hong Kong in 1986

It was so shocking I kept it.

[sandensea]

26. Negro imagery is still common in food products in Latin America as well.

One of the most egregious I've seen is Blancaflor ("Whiteflower" ) flour in Argentina. I believe they still make it.

[Kali]

8. I saw that in Taipei in 1976

I think somebody in the family may have even bought some...I didn't. Not for ethical reasons, I was just always broke.

[Grokenstein]

12. Ye gods. My mom made those awful "Mammy" coconut string dispensers

and this shit still manages to horrify me.

[John Fante]

2. If that product was any more racist, Trump would offer it a job

as head of homeland security.

[Warpy]

3. Song for the Old Ones

My Fathers sit on benches
their flesh counts every plank
the slats leave dents of darkness
deep in their withered flanks.

They nod like broken candles
all waxed and burnt profound
they say 'It's understanding
that makes the world go round.'

There in those pleated faces
I see the auction block
the chains and slavery's coffles
the whip and lash and stock.

My Fathers speak in voices
that shred my fact and sound
they say 'It's our submission
that makes the world go round.'

They used the finest cunning
their naked wits and wiles
the lowly Uncle Tomming
and Aunt Jemima's smiles.

They've laughed to shield their crying
then shuffled through their dreams
and stepped 'n' fetched a country
to write the blues with screams.

I understand their meaning
it could and did derive
from living on the edge of death
They kept my race alive.
Maya Angelou

I could never look at either of those products on the grocery shelf without thinking of this poem.

[kimbutgar]

5. Garbage food I'd never eat

Full of Chemicals linked msg.

[Sneederbunk]

6. What about the guy on the Cream of Wheat box?

[louzke9]

14. ANY DAY NOW....

Gone! As a very young child EONS ago. I was fascinated with the guy on the Cream of Wheat Box. I am still very fond of Cream of Wheat today. This man was used for marketing in advertisements since Cream of Wheat was introduced. Usually as a Chef on passenger trains. And what will happen to the Indian maid caricature on Land O' Lakes butter?

[RandiFan1290]

15. what will happen to the Indian maid caricature on Land O' Lakes butter?

She's already gone

[cilla4progress]

10. Redskins

next?

[KS Toronado]

11. Found this about Uncle Bens...........

Uncle Ben does, indeed, appear to have been a real person. According to the official Uncle Ben’s, Inc. website (www.unclebens.com), he was “an African American rice farmer known to rice millers in and around Houston for consistently producing the highest quality rice.”

Doing a search on Gordon Harwell led me to above article, Ben's photo image was not his actual image, you know they always need a pretty or handsome model to step in.

If they had Ben's actual photo to use as their logo, keeping it would be honoring him, but alas this is not the case.

[IronLionZion]

16. Negrita coffee should do the same

https://www.georgescoffee.com/Negrita-Coffee

Racism in Europe/Asia is comically absurd, and still horrible. In America it's murderous.

[Mosby]

17. Mrs Butterworth is next. nt

[csziggy]

18. I was thinking that Betty Crocker might go, too

My husband's grandfather (or great grandfather) worked for General Mills during the time period Betty Crocker was invented. Her name came from two different women that worked for the company - a Betty and a Miss Crocker.

[FakeNoose]

21. I'm sure that royalties were never paid to either woman

Just sayin'

If there had been ONE employee with the name "Betty Crocker" they would have paid for the (copyright) to legally use her name. This way - more profits for the owners and board members to split.

[csziggy]

23. SO I am - just like the Ben that became "Uncle Ben" never got a cent from the company

Actually I think we should fight for Black Lives now, then continue the fight for women's rights. Along the way we can try to improve workers' rights. Maybe one day the one percent will get some scruples.

[FakeNoose]

25. They won't (get any scruples) but we still need to fight them

Yes I agree that BLM should get our attention right now.

Luckily Biden can be trusted to carry that cross when he's in the Oval Office. His first appointment should be Barack Obama as our new Secretary of State. I know the next Cabinet and administration will have a lot of minority appointments.

[csziggy]

27. Remember, rights for any group are rights for all

Except maybe rights for white males who want to want to keep all the rights for themselves, that is.

[TheFarseer]

20. Mrs Butterworth

Sounds like a kindly old British nanny that makes you pancakes. Not sure what it has to do with racism but maybe there’s a story I don’t know about.

[Mosby]

24. The bottle is a racist stereotype

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/with-aunt-jemima-and-uncle-ben-poised-to-disappear-from-american-kitchens-a-look-back-at-their-racist-origins-2020-06-17

[Steelrolled]

19. Some advice for Chef Boyardee

You'd better shop around to find yourself a more productive bag.

[healthnut7]

22. Good!!

It's about time that Companies are getting the message.