There is something of a kerfluffle in the UK over the publication of Tintin and the Congo: the Commission for Racial Equality is somewhat upset over the 1930’s depictions of the inhabitants of the country as grinning picanninies. I can see their point too, although wouldn’t go so far as to advocate book banning, either forced or voluntary.
But as a small lesson in quite how far the UK has come, or if you prefer, how far other places might not yet have done, have a look at this.
That the packaging for a sweet (candy to Americans) available in every supermarket in Portugal. They’re actually made in Spain so I assume they’re all over that country too. They are peanuts covered in chocolate: think peanut M&Ms without the candy shell. And yes, the white ones are indeed white chocolate.
The name? Conguitos.
There are some puzzles you can play here on their website.
You can get wallpaper for your PC. Screensavers. Games to play. They’re very proud of their 40 th anniversary (meaning, bizarrely, that this brand only started in 1967):
You can even download their song (something I admit I haven’t had the courage to do).
Their tagline?
YOU WILL RECOGNISE THEM… BY THEIR FACE: ONLY CONGUITOS HAVE THE CONGUITO FACE.
To be honest, I simply cannot wait for their international expansion plans. When comparing what will happen with the Tintin thing all that really comes to mind is visions of storms and teacups.
Anyone want to let the CRE know about this?
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