Companies have long used racist and colonialist stereotypes to market products in the United States. Chiquita, the number-one banana distributor in the U.S., is a prime example.
The original iteration of the company's logo was a sexualized version of a female banana, perpetuating a widespread association between images of women and food that paints the former as passive and consumable. Currently, Chiquita continues to sexualize women in their logo by presenting exoticized visions of Latin American women. By doing so, the company perpetuates stereotypical images of Latin America and the people who live there.
Food Empowerment Project believes that Chiquita's logo is another way in which non-white bodies have been objectified and exploited. It is time to make it clear to Chiquita that they cannot get away with exploiting harmful stereotypes for financial gain.
While many companies — including Quaker Oats, which owns Aunt Jemima, and Mars, Inc., which owns Uncle Ben's — are finally distancing themselves from the racial stereotypes in their logos and branding, Chiquita has remained silent on this issue.
Sign this petition to join Food Empowerment Project in telling Chiquita to ditch their racist logo.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Dear Mr. Flores,
I am joining Food Empowerment Project in calling on Chiquita Brands International to ditch your racist logo. Whether portrayed as a banana-woman in the original logo or a human woman in the modern logo, Chiquita Brands International presents sexualized and exoticized visions of Latin American women and perpetuates stereotypical images of Latin America and the people who live there. This is unacceptable, and your company must stop exploiting harmful stereotypes for financial gain.
As a major banana distributor in the U.S., it is your responsibility to end the objectification of non-white bodies and to take a stand that racist and colonialist stereotypes are not acceptable. While many companies, including Quaker Oats and Mars, Inc., are finally distancing themselves from the racial stereotypes in their logos and branding, your company has remained silent on this issue.
It is time to stop using your racist logo.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
