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So next is Uncle Ben's?

chris said:

So next is Uncle Ben's?

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Yes:
Mars Inc says evaluating changing Uncle Ben's brand image

Probably still going to keep that Betty Crocker/Gerber baby privilege, though.

--Patrick

Cheesy1 said:

Yes:
Mars Inc says evaluating changing Uncle Ben's brand image

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Jesus, what does it take to finally get rid of this guy?!

Hey motherfuckers, what's up?

Let's talk about branding. Products sold to the general population live and die by it. If you have a great brand you do everything in your power to promote and protect it. Brands themselves are the source of revenue. Pepsi paid a fortune to buy Gatorade, they didn't spend all that money to learn the secrets of making flavoured water.

Which brings us to flavourless high fructose corn syrup in a hokey plastic bottle. Let's be honest, it tastes like shit and has no business on any pancake. This terrible product has lasted over a hundred years now, based solely on the power of its brand. It's just corn syrup, you can buy it by the rail car it's so mundane.

But today, the company that makes it announced they are abandoning the brand.

This where you need to take moment and recognize the significance of this manufacturer's action.

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Now, I hope that the company is doing this for altruistic reasons, but that's not how capitalism works. They're doing it because they no longer see their brand as profitable.

Now let that sink in.

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Yeah, that's right, racist iconography is no longer profitable in the USA.

So this is a good day.

Just, watch your feet kids, lots of melted snowflake puddles on the ground today.

And to bluntly point out the power of branding, I didn't even need to name it.

HCGLNS said:

to bluntly point out the power of branding, I didn't even need to name it.

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At first, I thought you were talking about Mrs. Butterworth's.
But yeah, they're feeling the heat, too.

--Patrick

PatrThom said:

At first, I thought you were talking about Mrs. Butterworth's.
But yeah, they're feeling the heat, too.

--Patrick

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The Cream of Wheat complaint is a little more complicated than is depicted in this article.
In the 1800's, Cream of Wheat had a character named Rastus on the package. In the early 1900's, that character was dropped, and a a real black chef, Frank L. White was added. Kudos for dropping the slightly racist Rastus character. But still feels exploitative.

Insider reporting?

Would have been better as "Felicia."

--Patrick

Add Eskimo Pie to the list. A statement from Dreyer's spokesperson shared with the Wall Street Journal said, "We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory."

Honestly, for all the making fun of this stuff, this is a good thing. We live in a country driven by money. When people start changing these things because they think it's going to affect their bottom line, I see it as a good thing, even if it is somewhat inconsequential.

figmentPez said:

Add Eskimo Pie to the list.

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Ok THAT one was a long time coming. But will they discontinue the product? Or just rename it "Inuit Ice Cream" or the like?

--Patrick

What about the Canadian Football League team from Edmonton? Will they now be known as the Edmonton Inuits?

jwhouk said:

What about the Canadian Football League team from Edmonton? Will they now be known as the Edmonton Inuits?

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Back in February, they weren't going to. Now?

Tinwhistler said:

The Cream of Wheat complaint is a little more complicated than is depicted in this article.
In the 1800's, Cream of Wheat had a character named Rastus on the package. In the early 1900's, that character was dropped, and a a real black chef, Frank L. White was added. Kudos for dropping the slightly racist Rastus character. But still feels exploitative.

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Dammit, I just found out that the guy that made the Rastus character is likely related to me.

We did it, America! Aunt Jemima was the final boss of racism!