Mars Inc. decided to “evolve” it’s Uncle Ben’s rice brand after Quaker Oats announced changes to Aunt Jemima:
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.
Mars Inc. also promised to instill changes to its company like adding “diversity across out
https://developers.facebook.com/unclebens/photos/a.125888344152548/4036520996422577/?type=3
Converted Brand Rice co-founders Erich Huzenlaub and Gordon Harwell founded Uncle’s Bens. The men chose the name Uncle Ben’s after “a famed Texas farmer, referred to as Uncle Ben, known for his rice.”
The modeled the black man on the label “after Frank Brown, a waiter at the Chicago restaurant where Harwell had the idea, according to the website.”
People have complained about Uncle Ben’s in the past:
Critics have pointed out the problematic use of a Black man to be the face of a white company, noting that Black men were often referred to as “boy” or “uncle” to avoid calling them “Mr.” during the country’s Jim Crow era.Uncle Ben’s had a re-branding in 2007, when Mars portrayed the “Uncle Ben” character as a businessman, according to The New York Times.
The companies that own Cream of Wheat and Mrs. Butterworth have begun to review changes to those items.
[Featured image via YouTube]
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY