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One of our producers visited this Target on 225th St., in New York City and made an interesting discovery. In the beverage aisle he found this soda with a black girl eating watermelon on a can. It reminded us of the caricatures of America’s racist past.
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This product has been around since 2007 and is made by :
Product of Cawy Bottling Co., Inc.
Company established in Cuba 1948.
Cawy Bottling Co., Inc.
2440 NW 21st Terrace
Miami, FL 33142
FL Tel. 305-634-8669
Toll Free 877-917-2299
Fax 305-634-2291
Notify them of your disapproval of this product.
On the web: http://www.cawy.net
Employees: 50
Cawy Bottling manufactures fruit-flavored soft drinks such as Jupiña, Materva, and Coco Solo. Its products are distributed throughout the US, Canada, Spain, and Central America. The company, originally established in Cuba in 1948, moved to the US in the 1960s as a result of the island’s takeover by Fidel Castro. Cawy’s first introduction to the US market was Cawy Lemon Lime. The company soon expanded to offer other fruit-flavored drinks and herbal enhanced drinks such as yerba mate soda.
Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2008:
Sales: $5.8M
Officers:
President, CFO, and General Manager: Carbonated Beverages
Competitors:
Coca-Cola
Goya
PepsiCo
hello i am here standing up in what i do believe about your product called “whatermelon soda” that has a black girl image on the soda eating a watermelon, when in history when afro-americans who mock and torment about black only eat watermelon and chicken. I dont know what you people are trying to approve but it is not working. I spoke to a GM there and he dont found it wrong –WHAT!!–, because he is racist himself, so we are going to start a petition on this product to be removed from the market, cause nobody aint going to buy and support it, so this company has lost some money on that. Little advice…”think before you speak” you people dont know how to run a business to sale a product to reach everybody in the target field, now you guys are the target according to that “eating watermelon soda black little girl face image” that is RACIST!!!! you people are not making a good deed out of this, it has gotten worst.
i think diz great. it aint racist cuz it got a lil wite boy eating a watamelon 2. i live in harlem n i think this product tastes great
@tina
You said, “think before you speak.” You might want to follow your own advice. This product comes from an ethnically diverse company. We all know you just want some attention, but you might want to fight those that are actually racists… like the GOP and the NAACP. In the meantime, why don’t you go back to school and learn how to speak properly.
My name is Joshua Thomas and I work in Target’s Communications department. I’ve been working with our buying team on this situation and wanted to share an update.
First and foremost, it is never Target’s intent to offend any of our customers – or guests as we call them at Target – with the products we offer. If any product raises questions or concerns, we listen to our guests. That’s exactly what happened here. As soon as we were made aware of the concerns about this soda, we removed it from our shelves.
We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this soda and assure you that we’re going to learn something from this situation that we can apply down the road. That doesn’t mean we’ll always get it just right, but hopefully it shows that we’re listening.
Thanks for sharing your concerns, and again, I apologize on behalf of Target. If you’d like to speak with someone at the company or have feedback you’d like us to hear, I’d encourage you to contact our Guest Relations team at guest.relations@target.com.
This story is one sided, literally. The can does display a black girl eating watermelon on one side, however, it displays a white boy on the other side of the can also eating watermelon.
Tina,
It’s not racist, it’s stereotypical. If you are going to post and rant and rave and stand up to the racist white corporates to remove their product then at least fucking learn how to construct a sentence in english.
I think anyone making a big stink about this product and relates it to racism has nothing better to do with their lives. This is the problem with America everything becomes a race issue. I think the sooner we stop seeing color the better for everyone. My entire family is a mixture of different cultures black, latin and white. I don’t see them any different then myself, human.
First of all, I can’t believe that we actually entertain the notion of compromising whether this is trash is sick or not. Its unacceptable whether the put a white counterpart on the can or not. Let them take up that issue, but ours is that picture of the little black girl. Do you really think its a mistake that the drawing was created in that fashion? The little white kid on the can is nothing but a smoke screen that didn’t work. The more we compromise this type of ignorant shit, it sets us back as a people. Grow a set and take a stand.
Get a life Wes.
@Marcus – don’t be dumb…that’s an Asian on the opposite side of the can. Asians we’re slaves in America, too.
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Theres a white kid on it too, quit being dumbasses.
As far as I’m concern, white people can’t make me feel shame about being Black..I know, my history and If I had a chance to be another race, I would not. We (Black People)were the first humans on earth and are the greatest. I recently read that Watermelon is good for the libido. How you doin?
I stumbled on this website by accident while searching for Watermelon Soda, I live in Miami and drink this soda all the time. There is a white boy on the other side of this soda eating a watermelon. There is nothing racial about the soda can. Some ignorant people just like to start trouble. BTW I am Latin and Black.
narmer said: “This product has been around since 2007…”
I grew up in the Virgin Islands and this product has been around, with the same artwork, since at least 1981.
I have never heard of anyone in the VI calling it racist, and the islands populations are 70% black.
It is my favorite soda.
There are people in this world that aren’t happy unless they are complaining and inciting others to complain and join their cause–people who had no idea how pissed off they were until you told them. Stereotypes exist. They always have and they always will. It may come as a newsflash to you that the black race did not corner the market on derogatory stereotypes–all races have them.
I came across your campaign to rid the world of evil watermelon soda by accident. I had watermelon tonight for dessert (heaven forbid, because I am white), and wanted to go onto the internet to look up the variety of watermelon I just enjoyed.
That is when I found your campaign. What I saw as I read, was a whiner who is trying to stir something up among the masses, when there is really no issue–except with you. I look at it like this…Maybe most of the world has moved on and can enjoy something as innocent as a soda and not have a thought of any hidden racial agenda. Or maybe in your mind, we are all too stupid or ignorant to recognize how terrible the world is, to instill hate through the sale/consumption of soda.
I see things occasionally that upset me, but instead of whining and beating the war drums to gather people to my cause, I won’t buy the particular product, or I won’t shop at that establishment, and perhaps I’ll write a letter to members of management that need to know of the issue.
By intimidating management at Target and getting them to drop the watermelon soda, I’m sure you have a sense of accomplishment and made yourself feel better. In doing so, you also hurt the sales of the soda company, potentially causing innocent people to lose their jobs and denied people who drink this soda the means of obtaining it.
I hope your happiness was worth the impact it had on other people’s lives. Somehow though, I doubt it. Empowered by this “victory”, you will likely move on to your next crusade.
If you were secure in who YOU are, this would not bother you. I am not put off by similar things about my race, in fact, I often find great humor in it.
Just remember, the world doesn’t like whiners, and you can better the world by bettering yourself first. Sooner or later, something near and dear to you is going to be someone else’s object of offense. That’s just the way it is, and until you recognize that, you will not be as happy as you have the potential to be.
There is nothing racist about this soda. If a cheesesteak shop named “Chink’s” doesn’t have to change their name, Target can keep selling their watermelon soda without fear of reprisal.
you have GOT to be kidding me. First, let me tell you folks that the makers of this product is a company in china! they originated this type of soda and it was later brought to america when it was discovered by the coke company to be popular at the soda exhibit in Disney in Orlando Fl. Secondly, black people screaming racist about every little thing has seriously made this country a huge joke to the other countries especially when the people who are complaining over these stupid and insignificant things are people who are not entirely well educated. Lastly, and Asian product is somehow racist when they display a white boy enjoying watermelon just as much as the black girl on the other side of the can? Seriously do you have nothing better to do with your time?!
I am a proud, black American. And I know racism exists in this country. It exists all over the world. But this soda can isn’t holding anyone back. Stop watching TV and read a book for a change! Most of the people who are concerned about the image on this soda can anr unable to articulate their thoughts effectively or properly construct a sentence. That is an important skill set in a modern society. One brother on the video doesn’t even understand the basic concept of a “double standard”. He applies the term to this issue when he sees an immage of a white kid eating watermellon on the other side of the can. Please! The white and the black kid have the same standard applied to them, stupid motherfucker! The reasons some of us are not reaching our goals in life are many. One of the biggest ones is that not enough people are taking the time to make themselves valuable members of society, with skills that help you contribute to the work force, and get you paid! This stupid soda can has so little bearing on our lives compared to the real problems. Focusing on minutia like this draws our attention away from addressing the hard issues that keep many of the members of our community from realizing their goals. I would rather ask Target to promote education and money management skills whithin the community. You are foolish if you are focusing your attention on an equal opportunity soda can!
Thank you,
HW
Waaahh!!! Waaahhh!!! Raaaacisstt!!!! Good lord! Is there anything that doesn’t piss off black people? Other people in other countries can live and do what they want to do. Holding on to ancient history and stereotype is no way for us to get ahead! Getting pissed over associating us with something that was rumored to be slave food over 100 years ago is just petty. We need to let the past be the past and move on!
This can has been around for a very long time Since it was made in Cuba. Cuba has a very large afrocuban population. It must be seen from that perspective cuba is 60-70 % black. It is an island nation like Dominican republic, Haiti, or Jamaica.
Jim and Others,
I think that depending on the person everyone may have a valid opinion on this matter, but thats all these are…opinions. So why are we disecting and ridiculing each others responses. After reading most of them, a lot of you have validation to your views. No matter how uneduated you may seem to think they are. Jim I am not defending Tina but English is a language dear, she did not use proper grammar (which is true). If you are going to make the focus of this blog picking apart someone else flaws in their opinion then just be sure yours is correct as well. A little humility goes a long way everyone, I am not saying hold hands and sing a song…but dont tear each other down trying to prove you point is more relivant than the next persons. SN: I think Leon Traveler made a very intellectual assessment!
This soda has actually been around for a long time. I used it for a punch at my wedding in 1985. And before you get all upset, turn the can around. The other side has a white kid eating watermelon. If they just had two white kids on the can you would probably be screaming that it’s racist because they left the black community out. Get over it. Not everything is about race. Quit being offended and get a life. And try the soda instead of getting upset about it. You may discover that it’s pretty good.
Iv’e been drinking this soda since i was a kid and im haitian go down to miami they sell this shit all the time not one blqck person i chill with thinks its racist
Really!! I don’t know if the producer of this soda had some type of subliminal message behind the idea of this soda can’s image or not. What I do know is peole need to stop wasting their lives focusing on bullshit! I too have been drinking this soda for nearly two decades and not once did racism cross my head. Watermelon is a fruit, so what if black people like it. Now, something as natural as a fruit is being associated with race.Black people do like watermelon;so do other races. Stop polluting people’s brain with this racist bullshit.
Thank you
HW