Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben in and of themselves do not exhibit racism, but a certain paying demographic today frantically sees color first. These images of previously accepted products apparently are an affront to that demographic now. As a Latino I grew up enjoying Aunt Jemima's pancakes made from that box and not once did I lose respect for or see my Black neighbors as anything different than us.

Like any business, in order to stay afloat they must sell a product that the paying public accepts and buys. If the product was making kitten sandwiches and selling them to a select clientele who would pay for that, they would. Look at China. They have dog and cat meat cooked and ready to eat off the hook in markets. A bit exaggerated but you get the picture. So no, they're not racist extreme, they just don't want people to stop buying their product.

She was real her name was Nancy Green. She was a freed slave who used her profits to do good. Common sense suggests that it is a tribute to her but many lack common sense.

Aunt Jemima has been around since 1889. Why is this just now being recognized after 131 years?

Long history with these products and the depictions of the characters and names of the products.
https://www.bing.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/business/aunt-jemima-mrs-butterworth-uncle-ben.amp.html
Read this article on the topic.

Yes. That does seem racist.

I’m not familiar with “uncle ben” but in all fairness, Aunt Jemima does derive from a racist “mammy” stereotype. I usually criticize these accusations of racism as just PC nonsense, but this is a rare example where the accusers actually have a point.

This is nothing really all that new--- Late 60's or early 70's Frito was forced to quit using their cartoon character "The Frito Bandito" because of stereotyping of Mexicans,, or maybe Hispanics, in general

downthestreetkid smh sorry this is getting silly and out of hand i am not a racist but this political correctness is going way to far

They’re caricatures based on stereotypes. It would be different if.

I’d say the harm caused by these specific instances is pretty low.

What's the story behind Uncle Ben?

It is derogatory

Maybe I’m racist because I use Mrs Butterworth?!? 🤔 🤷‍♂️

didn't you read BLM demands!? Quaker Oats remove Aunt Jemima, and, Hulu remove that Golden Girls episode where Rose and Blanch test a new mud face treatment