The summer of 2020 was an inflection point in the ongoing conversation about race in America. Sparked by a tragic number of deaths of Black people at the hands of police, protestors took to the street in protest, pushing for reform that eliminates inherent and institutional racial bias.
But brands also started to consider the elements of their identity with racist origins. Brands like Aunt Jemima, Uncle Benâs, Cream of Wheat, and the Washington Redskins rebranded to remove their blatantly obvious racist branding. While no one would argue that this would instantly cure racism in America, it was an overdue step for brands that had maintained the status quo for too long.
In July 2020, Conagra also announced it would conduct a brand review for Mrs. Butterworthâs, acknowledging that consumers could see the packaging, particularly its signature syrup bottle silhouette, as racist.
