Bye bye Uncle Ben...

[Gob]

Hello.. Ben...

Uncle Ben's rice will now be called Ben's Original as owner Mars announced a new name for the 70-year-old brand they claim will 'help put an end to racial injustices' in the wake of George Floyd's killing.



Critics had pointed out that white southerners once used 'uncle' to refer to older black slaves because they refused to call them 'Mr', and suggested the logo - which showed a white-haired black man with a bow tie - evoked servitude.

But the move sparked fury today from fans of the much loved family brand, who called the relaunch 'ridiculous' and accused Mars of caving in to Left-wing activists. 'Bye, bye Uncle Ben's. We won't be buying "cancelled products",' one critic tweeted.

Since 1946, Uncle Ben's products, including its much-loved microwave rice packets, have featured a picture of a well-dressed elderly African-American man - said to be based on a famous head waiter at a Chicago hotel.

Meanwhile, Mars, the company who own the brand, say the name Uncle Ben refers to an African-American rice-grower, famous for the quality of his rice.

The world has gone insane...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Meanwhile, here in South Africa, young white Afrikaners call older white men and women "oom" (uncle) and "tannie" (auntie). In some cases, older folks use the same terms for white people of the same age or older than themselves. Colored and Indian folks will use the same terms - not sure about amongst themselves but expect they use 'em there too.

Basotho folks call every adult, "ntate" (father) or "mme" (mother). If you know the person's first name, then it's rude not to add the name to the honorific. However, quite often a male Basotho will translate ntate and mme into "English" and call a white person "papa" (or baba, which is rather Zulu of them) or "mama" as appropriate.

A truly old white or black guy with grey hair will be called "ntate-moholo" which is grandfather. I also meet younger white Afrikaaners who call me "grandfather" in English or "oupa" in Afrikaans.

All these familiar ways to address people are (not one) intended to be insulting

[Big RR]

When I was a kid, I was always taught to call adult family friends (people too close to call Mr. or Mrs and their last name) as Uncle or Aunt (first name); it was a term of closeness and respect; they become like one of the family; we would never call any adult by their first name (I even remember Uncle Dan, the ice cream man--all the kids called him "uncle"). personally, I think changing it from "Uncle Ben" to "Ben' signals a lack of respect, but that's just me.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Right, Big RR. Oddly, I was always taught NOT to call anyone Uncle or Auntie unless they were . . . er . . . my uncle or auntie. My dad wouldn't have cared but my mother was dead-set against it. It was Mr and Mrs Brooks, Mr and Mrs Taylor, Mr and Mrs Dye and woe betide their offspring if they tried (as they all did. Once only) to call Mrs H "auntie Brenda". As to calling Mrs Taylor "Pat", mom would have killed me. Or died of shame. Or both

[Burning Petard]

Me, I never cared to pay the premium for 'converted' rice. Regular rice cooked and tasted just fine to me.

snailgate

[dales]

Me, I never cared to pay the premium for 'converted' rice. Regular rice cooked and tasted just fine to me.

snailgate

Hear, hear.

That crap Uncle Ben's "rice' isn't good enough to be fed to pigs.

[dales]

Me, I never cared to pay the premium for 'converted' rice. Regular rice cooked and tasted just fine to me.

snailgate

Hear, hear.

That crap Uncle Ben's "rice' isn't good enough to be fed to pigs.

[ex-khobar Andy]

There is a perception, right or wrong, that 'Uncle' was used as indicating a sort of 'safe' or elderly and non-threatening (he's not gonna take your women away!) negro - Uncle Tom or Uncle Remus - and hence bound up with all sorts of assumptions. To some people Uncle Ben fitted the same stereotype. If Mars want to remove that association it's fine with me.

Now: naming a candy bar after the Roman god of War might be the nomenclatural brick to fall. Just sayin'.

[Gob]

Now: naming a candy bar after the Roman god of War might be the nomenclatural brick to fall. Just sayin'.

We should start a campaign to have it banned!!

[Big RR]

There is a perception, right or wrong, that 'Uncle' was used as indicating a sort of 'safe' or elderly and non-threatening (he's not gonna take your women away!) negro - Uncle Tom or Uncle Remus - and hence bound up with all sorts of assumptions. To some people Uncle Ben fitted the same stereotype. If Mars want to remove that association it's fine with me.

If that's the perception, and I was unaware that it was (but then a lot of things aren't run by me), I have no problem in changing the name; even if it isn't the perception I have no problem in changing the name--they can call it what they want. But glorifying war in the name of a chocolate bar? Iwhat has our world come to?

As for converted rice, I'm not a fan of the Uncle's rice, but I do like Basmati rice with certain dishes--more taste and (I am told) more retained nutrients than other white rices.

[Bicycle Bill]

Now: naming a candy bar after the Roman god of War might be the nomenclatural brick to fall. Just sayin'.

We should start a campaign to have it banned!!

Google is your friend.

Franklin Clarence Mars, whose mother taught him to hand dip candy, sold candy by age 19.  He started the Mars Candy Factory in 1911 with Ethel V. Mars, his second wife, in Tacoma, Washington.

So the candy bar was named after himself, not the planet or the Roman deity.  What was he supposed to call it, a Wonka bar?

-"BB"-

[Joe Guy]

He should have named it Uncle Mars Bar.

[Long Run]

He should have named it Uncle Mars Bar.

Don't be an Ares!

[Big RR]

Maybe Theois Ares Bar?