Marvel Comics Writer Condemns Kellogg's For Racially Insensitive Cereal Box
Kellogg's is redesigning Corn Pops' cereal box artwork after a science fiction writer called its imagery racist. The controversial scene shows cartoon Corn Pops hanging out in a shopping center. All characters are the brand's traditional yellow, except for one lone brown custodian waxing the mall's floors.
"Hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pp on the whole cereal box the janitor? This is teaching kids racism," tweeted Saladin Ahmed, who is currently writing Black Bolt for Marvel Comics. "Yes it's a tiny thing, but when you see your kid staring at this over breakfast and realize millions of other kids are doing the same..."
Ahmed's post has attracted over 3,000 "likes" and just as many comments — some of which come from a place of support and others that belittle the writer's revelation.
hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pop on the whole cereal box the janitor? this is teaching kids racism. pic.twitter.com/Nh7M7IFawW
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 24, 2017
yes its a tiny thing, but when you see your kid staring at this over breakfast and realize millions of other kids are doing the same...
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 24, 2017
The breakfast food giant wrote back a few hours later: "Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion. We did not intend to offend — we apologize. The artwork is updated & will be in stores soon."
Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion. We did not intend to offend – we apologize. The artwork is updated & will be in stores soon.
— Kellogg's (@KelloggsUS) October 24, 2017
"Genuinely appreciate the rapid response," said Ahmed, who then quoted his own tweet writing, "today in tiny victories."
today in tiny victories https://t.co/00CMn1aaN6
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 25, 2017
To see what kids were eating the year you were born, check out the most popular breakfast cereals through the decades.