They’re changing the name of Uncle Ben’s.

[mummabear1967]

www.itv.com/news/2020-09-23/uncle-bens-name-dropped-from-rice-brand-after-logo-criticised-as-racial-stereotype?fbclid=IwAR0QAktv-u9bOTaruhDqMWGIcCJjAMILzpXtmRSe_iYzQE6qKBTWinyaIK8

Why on Earth are they doing that? Have people seriously complained? I don’t know why I’m acting surprised!

I just feel like there's so much other real, raw stuff going on at the moment for everyone I can't give this headspace.

Whatever, carry on 'Ben'. 🙄

Good for them. Yes there’s other shit going on at the moment but they can’t cure Covid, they can however address racist overtones and stereotypes that have been problematic for decades. That can only be a good thing.

People may not have complained. The parent company, MARS, has decided to retire the image of a black farmer, and to remove "Uncle" as it carries connotations of servility. Who would object to this? Seems a sensible commercial decision, even if some find it cynical.

HTH.

I can’t believe people are annoyed by this. Negative comment people must be joking.

If you read the article and many more available then you will get your answer. HTH.

Not sure why you are acting surprised either...... Maybe it's because in 2020 a world leading brand was still depicting black servitude as OK and you are surprised they are still doing that? I guess not

@emilyfrost can you expand on that? What language is it censoring? Why is it unacceptable for a company to change their logo?

I'm only surprised they didn't do it sooner; it's a very obvious racial stereotype.

Emilyfrost why is it unacceptable please?

A company removing racist imagery and changing a product name, unacceptable? Goodness me.

Good for them, presumably it makes no odd to the rice itself which is the reason most people probably by it, so why not.

Well overdue.

It’s just more PC bullshit and another attempt to censor our language. It’s absolutely unacceptable.
I’m sorry, what?

It’s just more PC bullshit and another attempt to censor our language. It’s absolutely unacceptable.

Were you upset when Robinson's removed the golliwog from their label as well?

I thought it was odd when I was a child, 52 now, because of the image. It fitted well with everything my racist father said about black people so I didn’t feel comfortable buying it.

I’m glad they are changing it.

What about Auntie Bessie's then? Should that go too as it's a caricature of a middle aged, white British lady?
And what about Colonel Sanders, Captain Birdseye, Mr Kipling, and numerous other eponymous brands.

@emilyfrost

It’s just more PC bullshit and another attempt to censor our language. It’s absolutely unacceptable.

Ditto what @emilyfrost said. Just kidding. It makes no difference to the taste of the rice and good on them for dropping their problematic branding.

I'm surprised they hadn't done it sooner to be honest

I don’t understand this. How is the logo of Uncle Ben’s racist? It’s literally just a man’s face with the words “uncle bens”

I hate racism with a passion but can someone explain how’s it’s racist? And if it was so racist, how come it’s been the logo for years?

In my research into this earlier I found it is Robertson's not Robinson's. I know!?

@JaJaDingDong

What about Auntie Bessie's then? Should that go too as it's a caricature of a middle aged, white British lady? And what about Colonel Sanders, Captain Birdseye, Mr Kipling, and numerous other eponymous brands.

Maybe I’m naive. I have never viewed it as racist or a throwback to slavery. I have always seen it as a welcome diverse name amongst all the white personas - predominantly males. I’m gobsmacked tbh.

"What about Auntie Bessie's then? Should that go too as it's a caricature of a middle aged, white British lady?
And what about Colonel Sanders, Captain Birdseye, Mr Kipling, and numerous other eponymous brands."

Thing is @JaJaDingDong none of these are the depictions are racist or have links to people being kept in slavery or have been oppressed for centuries. I think you need to do some thinking and much needed reading up on what prejudice is and white privileged.

Nope, can't see how it is racist to have a packet of rice with a logo of a black man and it being called Uncle Ben's. Way too over the top and people just looking for something to complain about.

It’s just more PC bullshit and another attempt to censor our language. It’s absolutely unacceptable.
What’s unacceptable, your right to promulgate racism?

So 'uncle' was attributed to elderly slaves as Mr was not deemed appropriate. Also Ben was in a bow tie so connotations with servitude.

Also Ben was probably not his actual name, but the name his owners gave him on his arrival to
The plantation house

I didn’t know any of this, literally just thought it was called uncle bens with no real meaning behind it!