First it was the Land O Lakes Native American woman, then Aunt Jemima, and now they’ve come for the Eskimo Pie. We can’t have nice things anymore.
The owner of Eskimo Pie treats said it would change the name of the nearly century-old ice cream brand because the term is derogatory, following similar moves this week by the makers of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben’s.
“We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory,” Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, said in a statement.
Wall Street Journal
Forget that the images and connotation of the above names and likenesses have changed over time to better reflect the sensitivities of the day. According to the keeper of all knowledge, Wikipedia, the word Eskimo is not a derogatory word.
Etymologically speaking, there exists a scientific consensus that the word Eskimo comes from the Innu-aimun (Montagnais) word ayas̆kimew meaning “a person who laces a snowshoe” and is related to “husky” (a breed of dog), and it does not have a pejorative meaning in origin.
Wikipedia
Today we’re just too sensitive for anything. Or the skeptic in me sees this as a marketing opportunity for a brand that has been in the deep freeze for a while (I’ll stop with the puns now). Who eats Eskimo Pies anymore?
In that same vein, I propose we change the name of the State of Illinois to the State of Bankruptcy. At least it’s an honest description.
Why should we appropriate the culture of the Inoka? Using the name of Native Americans that used to roam this state is insulting to those people. Look what we’ve done to this beautiful land.