On a previous post I wrote about a certain discomfort I felt in the back of my mind when looking at the Cream of Wheat box. After a friend read this, he kindly pointed me to somewhat of an old post, attacking this very topic. Apparently Uncle Ben got a raise!
A racially charged advertising character, who for decades has been relegated to a minor role in the marketing of the products that still carry his name, is taking center stage in a campaign that gives him a makeover — Madison Avenue style — by promoting him to chairman of the company. [NY Times]
What's that you say? There's racism in our food supply?!?!
...what's amazing about this guy isn't his fake promotion—it's that he still has a job at all. Uncle Ben is a rare survivor in the once-crowded world of racist spokescharacters. Most of his contemporaries were fired a long time ago. [Slate.com]
I guess it's still not as bad as those silly ol' Betty Boop cartoons.
