SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Many U.S. companies have committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We are also committed to being careful not to use materials or images that we consider racially insensitive.
The movement was sparked by calls for justice after a video of the killing of George Floyd went viral in late May 2020. The video also sparked mass demonstrations and riots in various cities.
For corporate America, the era of racial discrimination has arrived. Many people called attention to the lack of equity, diversity, and inclusion at some companies.
In some cases, they also called attention to racist branding that some companies have used for years.
Related articles about Utah affiliation
A month after George Floyd's death, Quaker Oats, a PepsiCo company, announced a rebrand of its Aunt Jemima pancake and syrup products.
The company admitted its origins were based on “racial stereotypes.”
Robert Birch, a local historian and founder of the Sema Hadithi Foundation for African American Heritage and Culture, says some of the high-end grocery brands that many of us grew up seeing in stores also have ties to slavery. He said it is based on images of African Americans that remind us of unity. He noticed that some brands have quietly evolved their images over the years.
“Many companies are trying to make that shift by making their image less overtly racist, while at the same time understanding that this brand is built on that name. “We are doing this,” Birch said.
The company behind Uncle Ben's Rice has rebranded and is now called Ben's Original.
Birch said there was a time when it was common for antique dolls dressed as female domestic slaves to be made to look appealing.
However, the reality of Birch's family history was far from what was available commercially at a time when antique dolls were popular.
Photos of his great-grandmother revealed the reality of slavery, which was far from glamorous, even from the way she was dressed. Slave clothing was not like that sometimes depicted on dolls.
“It wasn't like there were three or four layers of beautiful fabric. It was blue, maybe a light pastel blue, with little flowers on it. And work boots,” Birch said.
Birch said she hopes the conversation about history, racism and solutions continues. Otherwise, history may repeat itself.
“Everyone loses in that scenario. Ignorance doesn't help anyone. It doesn't help your child or my child,” Birch said. “And that's what we have to overcome. We have to choose to either deal with this problem seriously or leave it to our children to solve it. And it's unfortunate that we, as adults, It means we can solve this.”
_____
