Old-timers... Who's still around?

[Villavic]

Definitely the world has changed, and specially in recent years. I still haven't fully adapted and some changes still seem excessive to me (others are correct), since personally they were applied to things that I never found offensive.

Now that I see some old Aunt Jemima pictures in the web (I didn’t know it so I looked for), I see how similar to La Negrita (Little black woman) brand of peruvian desserts and cookies is. After 60 years the company decided to change the name La Negrita, and the picture to avoid racist connotations. Now it’s a more generic name related to sugar, and no face in the publicity.

With all respect, I found it ridiculous, cause many of those desserts were identified with the (delicious!) Afro-Peruvian gastronomy. Yes there is racism in Perú, but I had never heard any ugly racist joke using that name or picture. I thought in this case it wasn’t necessary to change it.

The most curious thing was that many in the Afro-Peruvian community (of course, from my generation) also found the change absurd. Rather than a favorable change to avoid racism, they felt they were losing a representation of their identity. Those desserts are inspired in typical pastry of a specific region where Afro-Peruvian community is very important in they are proud of their legacy.

But yes the world is changing, and I think we have to adapt. The point is to get more respect, so the purpose is good. Sometimes I think they go too far, but it is what it is.