The Uncle Ben logo is a real guy. He wasn’t named Ben. He was a waiter at s restaraunt some Ad Guy frequented, and they used his image for the brand without ever letting him see a penny of it. I don’t know whether the “uncle” part of his name is a slavery theowback like this person said, but that information wouldnae surprise me. Either way it’s an insanely fucked up story.
I feel like my dad is one of the more progressive people I know and he still had the “toaster negro” cover on the list of things he had to have from my grandmother’s house when she died. He finds it comforting. I used to as a child. I now find it problematic AF. Same with a Christmas ornament that is similar. I won’t put it on their tree when I help them decorate. And I don’t know what to do about it.
