ARE YOU OFFENDED BY THE PACKAGING OR IS IT JUST A PIECE OF HISTORY?The Insite received this email complaining about the packaging and or marketing of Arizona brand Sweet Tea. Here's a portion of the letter that's asking for a boycott. Tell me what you think in the comments section:
"Arizona" has a flavor known as "Southern Style Sweet Tea" but if you look closely on the front of the can there is a picture of a
Plantation!
Yes I said a Plantation, with a white couple on the porch and a black woman dressed like Aunt Jamama walking away from the house. When
did Slavery become marketable?
Stop buying any drinks from this company! Stand up and let your voice be heard & overload their lines. 1-800-832-3775!
.
ReplyDeleteLet me say before you do!
ReplyDeleteThat was a loooong time ago. Whats there to be upset about.
Slavery wasn't all that bad.
I didn't enslave anyone so why should I care.
I can't see why anyone would be offended by this.
It's just marketing.
There y'all go with the race card again.
You get the point!
Let's see! I see a painting of a plantation with three people in it. How do you know this isn't after the civil war?
ReplyDeleteIt's what you choose to interpret it as. Is this the same crowd that wants to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
^^^I TOLD YOU SO!
ReplyDeletePlantations are still big business, especially in Louisiana. I suggest the complaintant read up on history and then seperate present day from history. If they choose to boycott the picture then I hope they are also not drinking sweet tea, wearing cotton clothing, or singing and hymns in church that were once negro spirituals.
ReplyDelete^^^I hope that you are smarter than that. Take your time and come up with something better.
ReplyDeleteI know I took a lot of your options away. Not fair huh.
I hope everyone who posted on here wasn't black, because if so we have some serious history lessons that need to be taught. And as for the commentor who said that you "didn't enslave anyone" you seem not to be worried or bothered by what happens to your fellow brother/sister or neighbor, and that is the kind of attitude that leads to a fight for Justice such as the one against Chuck Rosenthal and the whole DAs office. Don't think that just 'cause you "made it" in the white man's world that all the injustice (including slavery) does not affect you because NEWSFLASH...IT DOES!!! But obviously you are not of color, by your choice of words "slavery wasn't all that bad" Ok let me "enslave you" and "there y'all go with the race card again" who exactly are you refering to when you say y'all??? I'd like to know. Feel free to write back.
ReplyDeleteRead the top.
ReplyDeleteI was throwing all of their excuses out there before they do it. You must have misunderstood what I was doing.
JOLO wants to say Art is what you make of it, and your own interpretaion. If folk want to get real techincal. the word plantaton can be view as racist as heavens know how many thousands of of our ancestors were residents of one and were killed or raped at one during slavery.
ReplyDeleteMy friend lives in the Plantation homes subdivision, maybe a boycott should be made of people in that subdivision.
Then my sister lives in Plantation, Florida. Thats another one. JOLO can remember the controversy 2 years ago about the street name Jap street. some people got offended by that and eventually it was renamed.
Remember people something is going to offend everyone in this world so stop googling things on the internet looking. there is just too many thing.
We just got to decided whether or not its going to mess up our day or not.
Having a black lady on a bottle of syrup never offened JOLO because damm.. that black lady made some dam good syrup.
I would really advise people to just take deep breath and chill.
DAMN! STOP WITH THE ELEMENTARY THIRD PERSON REFRENCE! How old are you? It's not funny. You seem to be a confused individual who is a male but wished that you were a female!
ReplyDeleteI am offended by that scene if it is supposed to be a current representation of the south. Y'all know it is the brown people working as domestics today!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't like it, then don't buy it.
ReplyDeleteVERY SIMPLE.
"DAMN! STOP WITH THE ELEMENTARY THIRD PERSON REFRENCE! How old are you? It's not funny. You seem to be a confused individual who is a male but wished that you were a female!"
ReplyDelete6:25 PM
HAHAHAHA. I agree with Anonymous. Thanks for making me laugh out loud Anon!!!!!!!
Racism in this country will never go away. Always in some way are form someone will be offended.There are in my opinion two forms of racism hidden and open go figure.I work in an area where most or all the employees are black and we are still not provided new equipment to protect the community.Thats what you call hidden racism.
ReplyDeleteThe tea is good
ReplyDeleteRacism isnt just a Black/White thing, its found all over the world and has been going on for basicly forever.
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest leading a good life and set good examples. Being so upset over a drawling on a tea can/bottle is pretty juvenile.
I'm supprised this Tea is causing such stink over the last 2 months. This Tea has been available for a LONG time now & happens to be pretty good... along with the Green Tea they make.
Focus your energy into something more productive for your culture instead of unprodutive internet slander. Its just a drawling and from the pictures on the products Ive baught, they are all tan in color w/o a date of when this was supposed to be taking place.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...if you scroll down to the post about Isiah hosting a superbowl party at the "insite hedquarters" and take a good look at te photo of Isiah in the blue shirt and ball cap, you can clearly see that HE has no problem drinkinh this type of tea. He has a gallon jug of it behind him sitting on the bar. AHAHAHAHAHAHA
ReplyDeleteI love when people make dumb comments about me who remain anonymous. Its just make me want to give more of my opinions even more. But anyway people need to take a deep breath and focus all the energy on living.
ReplyDeleteI sent an email to Arizona Tea and was sent a close of picture of the ACTUAL lable. The woman in "red" is WHITE. I was very embarrased to have forward that email to friends and family with getting the "other side" of the story. Here is the email from Arizona:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your email regarding AriZona Sweet Tea. Recently the internet has carried unfounded accusations unfairly accusing AriZona Beverages of labeling cans of our Sweet Tea with racist images on the label. We want to state clearly that these accusations could not be more inaccurate. The label depicts three individuals of non-descript race, a stately home with columns, and trees with Spanish moss hanging from the limbs. The original rendering of the label was done in color pencil/marker by the same graphic artist who has created the beautiful art that has appeared on practically every AriZona product label we have ever brought to market. ( see attached close up original rendering of the label). When printed on our plastic gallon packages and our poly shrink-wrap 16 and 20-ounce glass bottles, the image translates with a high degree of accuracy. When printing the image on our aluminum cans, the art does not translate the same due to limits in printing technology and the limit on the number of colors our can supplier can work with at the same time.
Racism in any form is a blight on mankind that must be opposed whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head. Because good people of all backgrounds rightfully reject this dreadful practice and shun those who spread messages of intolerance, we must first be sure that the label fits before we accuse. The duty of all people of honor, is to check the facts before making accusations that effect reputations. Irresponsible blogging and fact-less talk promote nothing positive. To unfairly accuse someone or Company of being a racist is a hurt that no one should suffer. Our products are enjoyed by people of all walks of life and we do not ever want to alienate any of them. We hope you will continue to support the AriZona brand!
Frankly - I believe this statement more than the email that is shooting around the email. Hopefully, I have made my amends to AriZona Tea.
NOW I'm embarrassed by my previous postings. Who taught me how to read and write? What I meant to "say" is: "I sent an email to AriZona Tea Company to complain about plantation scene. I was sent the email shown in my previous posting and a jpeg of the ACTUAL label. The woman in "red" is WHITE. I believe the statement made by AriZona and have totally discounted the email that is being sent to many Black people through out the U.S. I am publicly apologizing to AriZona for sending that email off to others before I got both sides of the story. I am NOT that sensitive about my background. Nevertheless, I know for a fact that racism is a live and doing VERY well in the U.S. and through out the world. I would have been offended if the woman in red was Black and dressed in an Aunt Jemima costume. I must now ask myself, Why? Why would I have been offended and Why should I give anyone that kind of power? Points to Ponder…
ReplyDeleteYou are right! Racism is alive and well, but it is not just directed AT the black community. It is directed BY the black community as well. @ wrongs do not make a right. I find it funny how people jump to a conclusion when they do not have the facts right! Just like that liar Yolanda Perry and all the people that jumped on her Lying bandwagon!
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding me!!! Jolo, I'm glad Ur still here. I do believe that is an actual photo posted a gallery. Should the owner take it down? Should I toss out the pictures of my grandmother at work back in the day. She was maid, hey so was my mom. Guess my whole family album should be destroyed. I show it in pride to all of my friends. I would almost bet money that the marketing department has many creative blacks in. Some of us know how others in our race are so shallow minded and no matter what anyone does that is different than what they would do, "ha got to be a white racist"... Now that is sad... These are the same people that think Obama is a black man. (lol) and I am now one of his supporters (lol)
ReplyDeleteI find it quite amazing how the response to the racist implications of the design of Arizona Sweet Tea resulted in an expedient reaction. Was it warranted? Maybe. Close inspection made it difficult for me to tell whether the woman dressed in pink is of African-descent. Its obvious that they are on a plantation, however, that is a part of our culture.
ReplyDeleteFor those within the black community who sought action against the label, I start to wonder whether the reparations stop here? Will this bring forth an onslaught of transforming the way our stories are told? Like many users have mentioned throughout the blogosphere, it can’t end here.
What I find the most telling about the comments and blog is that many of the comments that 'don't find this offensive' are the typical of cowards...anonymous...racist in the dark, but cowards in the day. It's obvious that its an offensive marketing strategy. There is no race card..if racism exists point it out - so we can target it for destruction! I laugh when I hear cowards saw that they never enslaved anyone, but think that removing a ad campaign that celebrate slave times is ok...but thats how the world is..Real men like me that stand up for justice...and real cowards that don't stand up for the fairness and justice.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Keith and I live in St. Louis
First and foremost, our ancestors fought for us to not be enslaved mentally, physically, or emotionally. Also you have to know your past to know where you are going. Many people are so nonchalant about this situation which clearly shows that they are not black or they just don’t care. That picture is very insulting to me because being black and growing up in the south is already a burden. This is the year 2008, when will this foolishness end? Before one opens their mouth, they need to educate themselves on their history instead of being injudicious.
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, our ancestors fought for us to not be enslaved mentally, physically, or emotionally. Also you have to know your past to know where you are going. Many people are so nonchalant about this situation which clearly shows that they are not black or they just don’t care. That picture is very insulting to me because being black and growing up in the south is already a burden. This is the year 2008, when will this foolishness end? Before one opens their mouth, they need to educate themselves on their history instead of being injudicious.
ReplyDelete