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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEskimo Pie to change name, cites racial equality
The owner of Eskimo Pie ice cream treats says it will change the name of its 99-year-old brand because the term is "derogatory," the company announced on Friday. The Eskimo Pie is America's first chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar and was invented in 1920 by Christian Nelson.
The move by Dreyers Grand Ice Cream, which owns Eskimo Pies, comes as Aunt Jemima and Uncle Bens announced changes to their brands following nationwide protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd on May 25. We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory, Elizabell Marquez, the companys head of marketing, said in a statement.
"The new name and the images that came with it were meant to evoke the chilly north and the indigenous people who lived there, but it traded heavily on a stereotype," reads a Smithsonian Magazine story on the name from 2017.
"Although there has been little public pushback to the Eskimo Pie in the way there has been to the Washington Redskins, at least one woman, who was of Inuk heritage, has said that the name is offensive. In Canada, there is a football team named the Edmonton Eskimos which has been the source of Washington-style controversy."
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/503700-eskimo-pie-to-change-name-cites-racial-equality-we-recognize-the-term-is
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,607 posts)Source: https://www.visitstillwater.org/event/45th-anniversary-event-at-eskimo-joes/18208/
https://eskimojoes.com/
https://www.google.com/search?q=eskimo+joe%27s+stillwater&tbm=isch&chips=q:eskimo+joe%27s+stillwater,g_1:logo:0SR0dIkmT1M%3D
Speaking of racism
This week we discussed racist logos and brands in our ethics class and it inspired an interesting topic Id like to bring up now.
Living in Stillwater, OK, everyone knows about Eskimo Joes. Known for its unique restaurant, good burgers and fries, live music and good drinks, the people of Stillwater love Eskimo Joes! In fact, its a bit famous. People often drive to Stillwater just to go eat at Joes. But there is something Ive noticed in the last year that greatly concerns me.
Has anyone ever considered the fact that using an Inuit and calling him an Eskimo is racist? Down in Oklahoma we dont know a lot about the Inuit culture. Inuits consider the term eskimo extremely offensive and derogatory, to the same degree of the N-word to describe black people.
Stan Clark and his businesses have been great for our community, no doubt. But each restaurant has exploitative qualities to them. Eskimo Joes, Joseppis (now closed), Mexico Joes, and our newest addition Mojo Joes.
Eskimo Joes environment and food has nothing to do with Inuit culture. An Inuit is simply being used as a gimmick to grab peoples attention and nothing else. The Inuits have a rich and intriguing culture and plastering an Eskimo with a big toothy smile on our billboards, T-Shirts, cups, etc. is pretty disrespectful.
Sadly I think rebranding Eskimo Joes is out of the question. It is such a staple in our community and changing anything to make it more politically correct would result in absolute outrage. The only thing you could do, if you felt passionate enough, is to just not go to Eskimo Joes.
Sneederbunk
(14,300 posts)whistler162
(11,155 posts)someone from PETA will pandar to the bears.
Sneederbunk
(14,300 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,607 posts)You're only making matters ursa.
Freddie
(9,273 posts)Whatever they call them is fine by me.
jimfields33
(15,954 posts)I just ignored it as I felt they wanted an argument and I wasnt in the mood. I did see a photo of cracker jacks yesterday and it a little boy in a sailor suit at Publix.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)C_U_L8R
(45,020 posts)Have they defined where the lines are on creating characterizations?
Codeine
(25,586 posts)The term Eskimo is regarded as derogatory by most of the people to whom we apply it.
Polybius
(15,476 posts)It's still around too.
snpsmom
(685 posts)ORIGIN late 16th cent. (in the sense brand new): from spick and span new, emphatic extension of dialect span new, from Old Norse spán-nýr, from spánn chip + nýr new; spick influenced by Dutch spiksplinternieuw, literally splinter new.
New Oxford American Dictionary - Mac Dictionary App
Polybius
(15,476 posts)It's just that it still sounds too close to the racist name. To avoid confusion, changing it is a good idea.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,433 posts)Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Maybe rename them Alaska Pies?