# Politically Incorrect Brand Names **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059 "2001-01-20T21:16:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/1 "2001-01-20T21:16:28Z")
Let’s see, how about; Laura Scudders’ “Wampum” corn chips with the “Injun” on the bag (~1960’s). Lays’ “The Frito Bandito”, did that one have a short life or what (~1970’s)? (Little Black) Sambo’s Restaurants, were they ever popular in the south? Let’s see how many other defunct (or extant) un-PC brand names that we can come up with. As an aside, has anyone noticed that in Europe the depiction of ethnic stereotypes is more common and not universally lambasted? The really odd racial characterizations of xenophobic Japanese products are another matter though. Feel free to mention them as well. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/2 "2001-01-20T21:44:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > **Lays’ “The Frito Bandito”, did that one have a short life or what (~1970’s)?** **The Bandito Song** _Aye, yi, yi yi… I am the Frito Bandito. I love Frito’s Corn Chips I love them, I do I love Frito’s Corn Chips I take them from you…_ Boy, that is some useless knowledge stuck in my head! :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/3 "2001-01-20T21:47:53Z")
Chinese Cherry and Injun Orange Funny Faces (1960s, sorta like Kool-Aid). They were later changed to Choo Choo Cherry and Jolly Olly Orange. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/4 "2001-01-20T22:09:57Z")
Let us not forget “Ayds” diet candy. Man is that one ever gone for good! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/5 "2001-01-20T23:07:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*Let us not forget “Ayds” diet candy. > > Man is that one ever gone for good! \*\* Though Ayds was around before AIDS. I remember the commercials! (Does that make me old?) On-topic: My dad collects old paper advertising, so I’ve seen a lot of late 19th and early 20th century brand names that just are no more, like Ni\*\*er-head Tobacco. And the advertising in general was easily racist, even against other white ethnicities. The Irish and Italians were an easy target at the time, as well as Asians and Native Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/6 "2001-01-20T23:15:33Z")
One can find lots of old racist brand-named stuff on Ebay (but don’t tell France! They’ll sue!) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/7 "2001-01-21T03:08:47Z")
According to _The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste_, there was a gas station in Mississippi (in the 30s) in the shape of a black mammy. Called “Mammy Gas.” ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/8 "2001-01-21T07:52:07Z")
Wow **Mjollnir** , I haven’t thought of Funny Face in years … thanks for that little nostalgia trip. The product that always gets my goat is Crazy Horse Malt Liquor. Crazy Horse the person, by all accounts, was very against alcohol use. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/9 "2001-01-21T08:01:03Z")
Lender’s Bagles? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/10 "2001-01-21T18:32:37Z")
Well, there are still currently the candies called sugar babies and sugar daddy. Originally they were n\*\*\*er babies and daddy ---
**Author:** ![snac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@snac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snac)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/11 "2001-01-21T18:47:35Z")
Don’t know about a Mississippi gas station called Mammy’s, but just south of Natchez on Rt. 61 there stands to this day a restaurant plus gift shop, called Mammy’s. It is quite a sight. There is a statue of a black mammy about fifty feet tall, with a silly grin on her face and holding out a tray towards an invisible Massa across the road. The statue is wearing a hoop skirt, inside which is the restaurant itself (ponder that symbolism for a little while)…and then it extends back behind her. I’m a Northern boy and I found I simply could not go into the place…I did duck my head in for an instant, saw a bunch of all white people sitting and evidently enjoying their meals, but it felt like looking into a dirty bookstore or something, so that was as far as I could go. Did snap a picture, and picked up a postcard or two, though. Quite a remarkable experience. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/12 "2001-01-21T18:53:14Z")
You can still buy Spic ‘n’ Span detergent anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/13 "2001-01-21T19:21:46Z")
Do they still make those “Big Chief” paper tablets for elementary school kids? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/14 "2001-01-21T19:35:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*Let’s see, how about; > > Lays’ “The Frito Bandito”, did that one have a short life or what (~1970’s)? > > Let’s see how many other defunct (or extant) un-PC brand names that we can come up with. > > As an aside, has anyone noticed that in Europe the depiction of ethnic stereotypes is more common and not universally lambasted? The really odd racial characterizations of xenophobic Japanese products are another matter though. Feel free to mention them as well. \*\* WHatever happened to the Frito Bandito? Marc ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/15 "2001-01-21T20:00:27Z")
[Busty Penetrating Oil](http://www.absurdgallery.com/busty.html) [Indian Chief Catnip](http://www.absurdgallery.com/cat.html). Note the manufacturer’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/16 "2001-01-21T20:15:26Z")
You get the “Bent Site of the Day” award there **Unca Beer**! ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/17 "2001-01-21T22:52:08Z")
[Darkie Toothpaste](http://www.tias.com/stores/scallop/pictpages/Black_Memorabilia/fan-darktp.html) was sold in Hong Kong and Taiwan at least until the late 80s. They’ve since changed the _English_ name on the label to “Darlie”, but the Chinese brand still translates as “Black Man Toothpaste”. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/18 "2001-01-21T22:55:46Z")
Quote: WHatever happened to the Frito Bandito? Marc Answer: They replaced him with “W.C. Fritos”, apparently figuring that drunken irascible characters were better than cultural stereotypes. Actually, the Frito Bandito lasted a pretty long time. IIRC, he started out in the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/19 "2001-01-22T01:40:36Z")
On “Ken Burns’ Jazz”, there was a 30’s photo of a sign advertising “N… Chicken” on some roadside. How f\*&^& quaint. Still in existence in many Florida communities is the ‘Crisp Coon Funeral Parlour’ chain. I made my hostess drive back past that one for the obligatory photo. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059/20 "2001-01-22T02:10:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie \* > \*\*…Still in existence in many Florida communities is the ‘Crisp Coon Funeral Parlour’ chain. I made my hostess drive back past that one for the obligatory photo. \*\* Whoa! I’ve been through a lot of Florida and missed this one. Where abouts? I remember reading an article on Japanese product names, including “Pickaninny Toothpaste” (logo was a wide-eyed, black-faced, white-lipped smiling child, hair in braids & bows). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/politically-incorrect-brand-names/51059.md?page=2)