Inherently racist brand name

For those wondering why Uncle Ben's rice is in the news and contemplating a change of brand... the answer is in the context.

The product was originally named after a famous African American Texas farmer (Uncle Ben) who was well-known for his ability to grow quality rice. The picture used in the branding is of Frank Brown - a Maitre d' at a Chicago hotel who agreed to pose for the photo.

The problem is that the term 'uncle', as it is used here, is a racist naming tradition in which older Southern blacks were referred to as 'uncle' or 'aunty' because courtesy titles like 'Mr' and 'Mrs' were reserved for whites. You see this in a number of other brands that were developed in the same era such as ‘Aunty Jemima’s’.

Uncle Ben’s rice is an inherently racist brand name and always was.