No more Uncle Ben: Food brand in UK which features black rice farmer on its packets announces it will change its 'visual identity' to 'help put an end to racial injustices'
Since 1946, Uncle Ben's products, including its much-loved microwave rice packets, have featured a picture of a well-dressed elderly African-American man - said to be based on a famous head waiter at a Chicago hotel.
Meanwhile, Mars Inc, the company who own the brand, say the name Uncle Ben refers to an African-American rice-grower, famous for the quality of his rice.
In a statement, issued today on the brand's UK Facebook page, bosses behind the Uncle Ben's brand confirmed they would be changing the packing and that they were 'listening to the voices of consumers, especially in the black community'.
Since 1946, Uncle Ben's products, including its much-loved microwave rice packets, have featured a picture of a well-dressed elderly African-American man - said to be based on a famous head waiter at a Chicago hotel
Meanwhile, Mars Inc, the company who own the brand, say the name Uncle Ben refers to an African-American rice-grower, famous for the quality of his rice
Uncle Ben's posted a statement on their UK Facebook page today saying they would 'evolve the brand's visual identity'
Uncle Ben's did not give any details about the timings or what the changes would be.
The statement said: As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to help put an end to racial injustices.
'One way we can do this is to evolve the Uncle Ben's brand and visual identity, which we will do.
'We're listening to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to our Associates worldwide.
'We don't yet know what the exact changes or timing will be, but we are evaluating all possibilities.'
Parent company Mars, Inc on Wednesday revealed it would make changes in the US and that it was 'helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices'.
On Wednesday afternoon, another American syrup brand, Mrs. Butterworth's, announced it has 'begun a complete brand and packaging review', according to a statement made by its parent company, Conagra Brands.
Meanwhile, Aunt Jemima, which has been face of the pancake and syrup brand for over 131 years, has also received renewed criticism over the prolonged use of the character which is based on the mammy - a black woman who worked for white families, nursing their children.
The syrup brand has been sold by Tesco in the past, but is currently listed as 'unavailable' on its website.
Earlier on Wednesday Quaker Foods said it would drop the name and logo after recognising its 'origins are based on a racial stereotype'.
Vice president and chief marketing officer Kristin Kroepfl said earlier on Wednesday: '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 company said it has tried to update the brand over the years in a 'manner intended to be appropriate and respectful' but has since acknowledged 'those changes are not enough'.
According to the PR Museum in America, the term 'aunt' and 'uncle' in this context refers to how white southerners addressed older black people or African American slaves because they refused to give them courtesy titles such as 'miss' or 'mister'.
Earlier on Wednesday Quaker Foods said it would drop the name and logo for Autn Jemima after recognising its 'origins are based on a racial stereotype'
Here is an American print advert for Aunt Jemima which was published in the 1940s
Aunt Jemima is popular in America but was also sold in the UK, including by Tesco on their website. It is currently unavailable
Quaker, which is owned by PepsiCo, said it's overhauled pancake mix and syrup will hit shelves by the fourth quarter of 2020. The company will announce the new name at a later date.
It comes amid a nationwide reckoning on race in the US, sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, that has prompted a number of companies and brands to make changes aligned with achieving racial equality.
Protests initially in the US later spread to the UK, where focus turned to the removal of 'racist' statues, including that of slave trader Edward Colston, whose tribute in Bristol was torn down and dumped into a nearby harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest last month.
Following growing protests, TV show Little Britain was removed from Netflix, BBC iPlayer and BritBox amid concerns that the use of blackface characters on the series was no longer acceptable.
In an apparent reaction to the Black Lives Matter protests, Netflix pulled the Matt Lucas, 46, and David Walliams, 48, series on Friday, along with the pair's other comedy Come Fly With Me.
Then the BBC and BritBox both confirmed they had also decided to remove Little Britain saying 'times have changed' since the show first aired.
The shows include scenes where the comedians portray characters from different ethnic backgrounds with the use of make-up.
Similarly, Bo' Selecta, which impersonated black stars such as Craig David, Trisha Goddard and Michael Jackson has been removed from All 4 after creator Leigh Francis recently issued a tearful apology. It is, however, still available on Prime Video.
Little Britain stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas later apologised for their use of blackface.
In a joint statement the pair insisted it was 'wrong' to portray characters of other races, but reiterated it's something they have apologised for in the past.
No comments: