After Aunt Jemima And Uncle Ben, Lloyd’s Of London And Britain’s Biggest Pub Owner Apologize For Links To Atlantic Slave Trade

TOPLINE

Business giants in Britain have apologized for their historical role in the transatlantic slave trade, in the wake of global anti-racism protests that have toppled statues of slave traders and forced brands, such as Aunt Jemima, to replace imagery and symbols linked to slavery.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

Lloyds said in its statement: “This was an appalling and shameful period of English history, as well as our own, and we condemn the indefensible wrongdoing that occurred during this period.”

Additional info

Up until 2015, the British government was still paying debts for the compensation to the descendants of slave owners for the “loss of human property”. The compensation began after slavery was abolished in 1833, and the U.K. government pledged £20 million ($25 million) at the time to pay the funds. Greene received about £500,000 in the scheme.

Key background

The past few weeks have forced companies and institutions to start publicly acknowledging and confronting their historical links to slavery and racism. On Tuesday, Quaker announced it would replace the Aunt Jemima pancake mix syrup criticized for being a racist caricature, while rice brand Uncle Ben, owned by Mars and bearing the ;likeness of a Black man, will “evolve”, the company said.

News peg

Black Lives Matter protests have been sustained for almost a month following the death of unarmed Black man George Floyd in police custody on May 25, with demonstrators calling for an end to racism and police brutality. The movement has spread to industries spanning food, entertainment, education and beyond, with critics and employees applying pressure on corporations to address institutional and systemic racism within the workplace and branding, and to go beyond making anti-racism statements on social media.

Further reading

Aunt Jemima—Long Denounced As A Racist Caricature—Removed By Quaker Oats (Forbes)

Uncle Ben’s Brand Will ‘Evolve’ Following Aunt Jemima’s Removal (Forbes)

Oxford College Votes To Remove Statue Of Colonialist Cecil Rhodes (Forbes)

UK taxpayers were paying compensation to slave traders until 2015 (The London Economic)

Adidas’s Staff Disquiet Over Racism Boils Over With Calls To Investigate HR Chief (Forbes)

Legacies of British Slave Ownership database (UCL)