Kool-Aid
Since the creation of the ‘Kool-Aid’ brand in 1927 it has always served as a cheap substitute to 100 percent fruit juice. Kool-Aid is made from dried out fruit smack, leaving only a powder to be mixed with water. Added sugars and coloring allow the company to diversify in selections and Kool-Aid was up and running. It was originally an All- American brand, advertised to all demographics and races. Over time the access to the product defined its social status, it became an affordable drink for low income households.
The company realized that a lot of its sales came from the minority demographic. Once this was identified, the advertisements and commercials started targeting African Americans; placing us in situations appearing happy and content drinking Kool-Aid. Over time the popularity of the drink began to spread across all demographics, reaching black and white households. Sadly to say, the stereotype still remains.
KFC
Another stereotype placed on the African American community is the craving and liking to fried chicken. Naturally the stereotype transformed and attached to the leading seller of fast food fried chicken in the country, KFC. After the emancipation of the slaves the majority of them remained in the southern states. Like all countries, cities, and states, cultures are defined by the access and exposure to different experiences.
Fried chicken was a major part of southern culture as a whole, therefore having an impact on the large population of African Americans and what they ate. All races and specifically southern Americans have a liking for Fried Chicken. When companies like KFC and Kool-Aid make advertisements targeting African Americans, it only perpetuates the stereotypes attached with the products they sell; even though their product reaches all.
Aunt Jemima
Through extensive research one of the most common stereotypes attached to African American women is the Mammy. The Mammy character is usually overweight, dark-skinned and desexualized. This character came about during slavery times. The image of a smiling, happy, black slave woman helped to promote the idea that slavery was not inhumane and was enjoyable for some. She worked inside the home and lived for her white family. The mammy character can be seen in some of the images we are familiar with. Perhaps the most famous mammy figure is Aunt Jemima on the syrup bottle. As the American society changed during the civil rights movement criticism of aunt Jemima increased and in 1989 Aunt Jemima was given a makeover.
The reason many people may feel there is an ethnic stereotype with Aunt Jemima is because it is a black old woman on the cover of the products the company sell. This would attract a primarily black crowd of customers. Many people feel that by selling the product this way, it is racist to say the least (petitiononline).
Uncle Ben's Rice
The image of an elderly black man has appeared in ads for Uncle Ben's Rice since 1946. Ben was a Houston rice farmer known for his famous crops. When Texas food broker Gordon L. Harwell launched a brand of commercial rice cooked to preserve nutrients, he decided to name it Uncle Ben's Converted Rice, after the respected farmer. The title "Uncle" likely derives from the practice of whites addressing elderly African Americans as "uncle" and "aunt" during segregation because the titles "Mr." and "Mrs." were deemed unsuitable for blacks, who were regarded as inferior. In 2007, however, Uncle Ben received a makeover of sorts.
