The Aunt Jemima brand and logo will be retired

[Theo520]

In any case, this company isn’t being forced. They are freely responding to “the market.” Isn’t that what most conservatives trust? Edit: I should say, most libertarians, not conservatives. I, for example, am socially conservative.

The cancel culture uses limited but intense pressure to force the outcomes they desire, so I wouldn’t equate it to ‘market forces’. The brand hasn’t seen a drop in sales from a boycott or even driven by customer complaints. In this particular case, it’s really just a knee jerk reaction to a single TikTokk video,

They definitely have the right to change their brand, just as I have the right to critique their thinking since the current brand wasn’t racist, and chose a different brand.

Time will show this was a poor business decision.

 

[Rubee]

They definitely have the right to change their brand, just as I have the right to critique their thinking since the current brand wasn’t racist, and chose a different brand.

You would punish them merely for dropping a name with racist origins? Really? Wow.

 

[Nepperhan]

That ‘historical incident’ is one of honor and dedication, not one of racism

One person’s ‘honor and dedication’ is another’s ‘impoverished servitude’. Maybe if those little jockeys did not have such extreme facial figures they would be more acceptable.

The point is that lovable, cultural icons should be understood from where they emanate and what they connote. Like St. Nick’s black servant in the German Christmas tradition.

 

[Buks]

That ‘historical incident’ is one of honor and dedication, not one of racism

Except to those who’s limited imagination doesn’t allow the possibility of different races sharing a common goal.

 

[jeannetherese]

I have never purchased this syrup, myself, because I prefer my own, or using honey as a syrup substitute. If I did purchase the syrup in question, I would look for a different product when shopping after the rebranding.
My viewpoint would not be that I was punishing a corporation for dropping a name with racist origins. Rather, I would be withdrawing support from those not strong enough to stand up to a mob mentality.
The mob is turning on any and everyone right now. I don’t want to encourage it.

 

[Rubee]

Well, Godspeed. I hope more people who saw it as insensitive before now buy it to replace those who would drop them for this innocuous act of charity.

 

[jeannetherese]

On the other hand, describing African facial features as extreme may result in reifying non-African standards of beauty.

 

[TK421]

On the other hand, describing African facial features as extreme may result in reifying non-African standards of beauty.

I don’t think so. A lot of the old caricatured depictions of Africans (also Chinese) highly exaggerated certain features. They weren’t representing typical facial feature.

Beauty standards are to some extent subject to perception (unibrows are seen as beautiful in Tajkistan and parts of central Asia) so when people are presented in a negative and degrading way in pop culture, this causes them to be viewed as less attractive.

 

[jeannetherese]

I don’t see anything innocuous or charitable to caving in to a mob mentality.
a lot of people are running scared right now for all sorts of reasons. in heated times, it can be sensible to step back and take a few breaths before making decisions.
I don’t want social media swarms becoming a thought police and I am watching various very large private businesses announcing their intent to shape speech on their platforms.
I don’t have the answers to all of these concerns. I’m just one more citizen asking questions and trying to find my way through some of these issues.
May God bless you…
jt

 

[jeannetherese]

I think you have a point TK421 and I think we might both be thinking of caricatures when we personally consider what it means to have extreme facial features.
the issue of intent (which may be difficult to ascertain at times) also comes into play.
For instance, this is a caricature drawing of the band Aerosmith:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
But is it racist? If yes, why? if no, why not?
Does the answer change if I mention that Joe Perry is Native American? How about if I get into detailed ethnic/racial descriptions of the other 4 group members?
Why or why not?
Does it matter that the band authorized this drawing? The model for Aunt Jemima authorized the use of her image as well.
Who gets to make the determination, under what conditions, according to what standards?

 

[Theo520]

You would punish them merely for dropping a name with racist origins? Really? Wow.

I’m completely against the current cancel culture we live in. But I should also confess, haven’t bought any pancake mix in years.

I expect I’ll keep buying instant Quaker oats, unless they do something crazy to that brand as well. Oddly it should be an easy target for promoting white privilege with their current branding, right?