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Good morning, communicators:

After Quaker Oats announced it would retire Aunt Jemima because of the brand’s association with slavery and racial inequality, other brands are also taking a close look at their mascots and images.

Cream of Wheat says it is taking a look at its branding, which includes images of a black cook some believe to be Chicago chef Frank L. White.

White was added to the package to replace the original mascot, “Rastus,” a racist caricature of African Americans based on minstrel shows.

Image courtesy WikiCommons.

CNN reported:

“We understand there are concerns regarding the Chef image, and we are committed to evaluating our packaging and will proactively take steps to ensure that we and our brands do not inadvertently contribute to systemic racism,” B&G Foods told CNN Business in an emailed statement.

Even if you no longer display the most offensive version of your branding, acknowledging its racist roots and taking stock of past inequality can be a powerful step to take for brand managers.

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