Was there a real Uncle Ben?

Was there a real Uncle Ben?

Uncle Ben was the name of a fictional character, first used in 1946, as a reference to an African-American Texan rice farmer. However, the company said the image used on the Uncle Ben packaging "was a beloved Chicago chef and waiter named Frank Brown.”

Why are they getting rid of Uncle Ben?

Uncle Ben's Rice will change its name to Ben's Original and remove the image of a smiling, grey-haired black man from its packaging. The change follows through on a pledge its owner Mars Food made in June to review the brand amid global protests over police brutality and racism.

What is Uncle Ben now?

Uncle Ben's is now Ben's Original: Rice arrives in stores with new name and packaging. An iconic rice brand is hitting shelves with a new name and revamped packaging. ... The new name was unveiled in September.

Who is the face of Uncle Ben?

Frank Brown Frank Brown was the man whose image became the face of Uncle Ben's in 1946, said Caroline Sherman, a spokeswoman for Mars Food, the brand's parent company. Brown was a maitre d' in a Chicago restaurant. Not much else is known about him, but Sherman said there is an effort to learn more.

Why is Uncle Ben's changing its name?

It comes after frequent accusations of racism against Uncle Ben's logo – an illustration of a black rice farmer – and name. In plantation-era US, white people in the southern states would often refer to a black man as 'uncle' to avoid using the more respectful 'mister'.

What race is Mrs Butterworth?

And the truth is, yes, Mrs. Butterworth is white. In fact, one could argue that people who thought she was black were... kinda racist themselves.

Why is Uncle Bens just Bens now?

After the death of George Floyd in May 2020, Mars Inc. announced that it was planning a "brand evolution" to "take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices." In September, Mars Inc. revealed the new name — Ben's Original — and announced that new packaging would hit stores in 2021.

Why did Uncle Ben's change its name?

Uncle Ben's Changing Name To Ben's Original After Criticism Of Racial Stereotyping. Boxes of Uncle Ben Converted Rice on a store shelf. ... "We understand the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the Uncle Ben's brand," the company said in a statement. "We have committed to change."

Is 'Uncle Ben' Rice Company owned by a black man?

• Mars Food, the owner of the brand Uncle Ben's rice, which features an older black man smiling on the box, said on Wednesday afternoon that it would "evolve" the brand as protests over racism and police brutality across the country continue.

Who makes Uncle Ben's Rice?

• Uncle Ben's is a brand name for parboiled rice and other related food products. The brand was introduced by Converted Rice Inc., which was later bought by Mars, Inc. It is based in Houston, Texas.

Was there an Uncle Ben?

• As noted here, Uncle Ben was a famous rice farmer from Texas famed throughout the states for the quality of his rice crop and being Spider-man’s great uncle or something. Apparently Uncle Ben wasn’t that famous because even today, historians still aren’t sure what his surname was.