Racist Products In the Chinese Market

Last week, The World of Chinese wrote an interesting blog discussing enduring racist marketing in China and questioning why products such as Darlie Toothpaste (formerly 'Darkie' in English but still heiren yagao ‘Blackman Toothpaste' in Chinese) continue to exist even with the blatant use of an Al Jolson inspired minstrel as their logo.

The name change occurred in western markets in 1985 when US company Colgate-Palmolive acquired owners of Darkie Toothpaste Hawley & Hazel (est. 1933) but the branding was deemed inoffensive to consumers in China, Malaysia and Thailand and thus was not changed.

The article goes onto cover a number of other seemingly racially insensitive products still available to the Chinese market, such as Authentic Black Ghost Oil, White Men Toothpaste and even Pink Lady Shampoo:

Of course, China is not the only country to have fallen foul of marketing with racist undertones (and even overtones) and points out how even Red Man Tobacco and a number of big league sports teams still exploit names and mascots that could be considered tactless.

Do you think these products are acceptable in contemporary society, especially when owned by Western conglomerates who cannot hide behind feigned ignorance? Have you stumbled across any similar products in your time in China? 

Photos: The World of Chinese