Aunt jemima east texas hawkins lillian richard pancakes. History behind face of aunt jemima east texas native lillian richard by ken molestina june 17 2020 at 6 36 pm filed under. Originally aunt jemima was shown with a wide smile and wearing a bandanna in her hair an image that faced criticism for years as it was accused of encouraging racist stereotypes.
The aunt jemima caricature was a product of the white imagination and the minstrel shows of 19th century america said gregory smithers a history professor at virginia commonwealth university. Aunt jemima s logo has changed 6 times and its history is rooted in racial stereotypes and slavery check out how the brand started and evolved over 130 years jessica snouwaert 2020 06 17t21. This is the story of the woman who became a food that became a product which became one of the most recognizable figures in history.
Before aunt jemima came to be an american icon an initial interest needed to be established. However when thinking of aunt jemima people often associate a person to the name not the pancakes. Black lives matter people as she dumps a box of aunt jemima pancake mix down the sink.
In the tiktok kirby talks about the history behind the aunt jemima brand and ends with not today. I understand the images. Relatives of former aunt jemima spokeswomen say they are concerned that their family history will be erased as quaker oats moves to rebrand the syrup and pancake mix.
1933 anna robinson portrays aunt jemima at the second chicago world s fair she travels the country promoting aunt jemima and is able to make enough money to provide for her children and buy a 22 room house where she rents rooms to boarders. In 1889 the creators of aunt jemima charles rutt and charles underwood sold the company to r t davis who soon found nancy green in chicago. Nancy green was born into slavery in 1834 in montgomery county kentucky.
In 1890 a former slave named nancy green was hired to be the spokesperson for aunt jemima brand food products. It is currently owned by the quaker oats company of chicago a subsidiary of pepsico. By 1915 it had become one of the most recognized brands in us history and changed us trademark law.
The aunt jemima pancake mix debuted in 1889 the first ready mix.
Aunt jemima history. Aunt jemima is a brand of pancake mix syrup and other breakfast foods.
Aunt jemima is a brand of pancake mix syrup and other breakfast foods.
