Brands and anti-racism movements

The death of George Floyd, a black Houstonian, has triggered waves of protests across the nation. A situation that has catapulted anti-racial demonstrations to the forefront of public issues. Hopefully, it can cause the critical change that we know is long overdue.
While 2020 will go down in history as the year of the global pandemic, the scale and sheer force of these recent protests led by the resurgent Black Lives Matter Movement would have major impacts on how society operates after now.

Protests have already been held, and some are still ongoing in all 50 states of America, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and several major European countries, like The UK, and Germany. Thousands of people have mobilized around the world to support the anti-racial movement, while countless more have provided financial and material aid.
But these issues have also permeated the business world, as customers and brands react accordingly.

Companies and Anti-Racial Movements

With the growing momentum of the anti-racial movements headed by Black Lives Matter, BLM, talks of institutions and companies taking part in various forms of racial activities are becoming a matter of public debate.

Calls for changes in terms of representation, inclusion, and downright misrepresentation of minorities are threatening the continued existence of most brands in the country.
 

Brands Affected by Anti-Racial Movements

Aunt Jemima, owned by Pepsi-Co, the parent company of Quaker Oats, is a 130-year-old renowned food brand for pancake mix, syrup, and other breakfast foods. The image of a black woman can be seen on the body of their products package. Though the brand has reported that the brand image is based on the true-life story of an 1890 missionary, Nancy Green.

The brand also comes under fire for failing to include that she was born into slavery and was a ‘mammy,’ a type of southern slave that took care of white children. In response, the company has announced a complete rebrand that’s expected to be out before the end of the year.

Aunt Jemima would also donate $5 million for the next 5 years and so will its parent company Pepsi, who’ll be contributing $400 million to support Black communities across America.

But Aunt Jemima isn’t the only brand undergoing such changes. Other brands include:

• Mars Food - Uncle Ben’s brand.
• ConAgra Foods - Mrs. Butterworth's brand.
• Cream of Wheat brand.
• Washington Redskins Football team.
• Dixie Chicks band, now Chicks band.
• Trader Joe’s.
• Land O’Lakes.
• Lady Antebellum.
• Plantation Rum.
• Unilever’s ‘Fair & Lovely’ brand.
• Rastus.
• HBO’s ‘Gone with the Wind,’ for pro-confederate propagandas.
• World Federation of Advertisers request changes in using the terms, ‘Blacklist’ and ‘Whitelist’.

What’s Next for Brands and Anti-Racism Movements

Traditional corporate culture discourages business brands from participating in mainstream politics. But recent studies are showing a shift in consumer perspective from this norm, and companies are realizing that continuous silence could hurt the overall perception of their brand.

Statistically, 81% of consumers agree in making personal sacrifices to address critical social and environmental issues. Another study by Marketing Dive, says 65% of Americans agree with brands taking action against racism, and it's true that 87% of Americans purchase products from companies that advocate for issues they care about, while another 88% will boycott those that behave irresponsibly.

During these trying times, it's critical that your brand follows these paths as it navigates the current climate:

1.    Sincerely Denounce and Call-Out Racial Injustice

The worst thing you can do for your brand, if it's been accused of racial injustice, is to fold your hands and twiddle your thumbs. The best line of action is to admit your brand’s fault and make amends. Follow the example of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who in his comment on the BLM movement, reemphasized the need for racial equality and pledged to support the Black Community with $10 million.

To address the issue genuinely, consider:

• Acknowledge the Race Divide and the problems it’s caused because, sadly, not everyone sees it.
   
• Plan and Fund Monthly Inclusion Events like workshops, panel discussions, open forums, that’ll provide good guidance on racial issues, equality, inclusion, diversity, and foster a good management-employee relationship.
   
• Provide Sponsorship Platform for employees of minorities to aspire for professional advancement. This could be in the form of mentorship, referrals, direct funding, etc.
   
• Provide Diversity Data and commit to doing better if you’re in the wrong.

2.    Help Stop Anti-Racial Cues

Consider what Facebook did on July 9th this year, when they announced the introduction of a ban on ‘white nationalism,’ a move that supports racial justice. So, adopting strict rules that hinder anti-racial activities within your company and its relations with customers can go a long way in stopping anti-racial cues within your company and build your image.

3.    Consider Rebranding

If your brand is in direct conflict with anti-racial views, you might want to consider rebranding. But this is best for brands that have been heavily damaged by their racial involvement. Brands like Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and Lady Antebellum, all of which are in the process of rebranding.

Although rebranding can be very rewarding, it’s equally a very high-risk endeavor, and should only be undertaken after your brand has carefully considered the following factors:

• Conduct a detailed study on rebrand alternatives like linguistic analysis, trademarks, and demographic studies to ensure that the rebrand is internationally perfect.
• Test several ideas and get feedback.
• Consider mergers and acquisitions.

Remember not to rush into rebranding so as not to transfer aggression to your new brand. Try to make up for your previous errors before considering a rebrand.

4.    Partnering with Anti-Racial Organisations

If there’s anything we can learn from the overwhelming mass support for the stand against racism. It’s that racism is universally loathed. So, partnering with anti-racial organizations and communities involved in the movement is a good way of maintaining or improving your brand image, especially if it’s been hit by racial scandals.
Some ways you can partner with anti-racial organisations include:

• Provision of funds.
• Program sponsorships.
• Provision of material aids.

5.    Avoid All Forms of Racism

The increased plights of anti-racial organizations have put extra demands on brands and companies to shun and desist from any form of racism in their establishments. So, in order to avoid the backlash of your customers and anti-racial organizations, you must make it a point to avoid any form of social misbehavior altogether.
And these are some key issues organizations should look out for:

• Cooperate segregation and intolerance
• Cooperate enslavements in third world countries
   

In The End: What If The Media Follows

There’s always the risk of being attacked and scapegoated by the media, anti-racial organizations, and customers for your brand's involvement in these types of issues. It’s ill advised to rebrand for the sole purpose of avoiding negative publicity or your brand’s ethnic affiliations.

It’s easy to make mistakes while handling issues like these. So take extreme caution and care every step of the way. A good place to start is by involving PR professionals and a naming agency. 

These professionals would guide you through rebuilding your brand image and help your brand attain its former glory.