The sweet face of aunt jemima most likely floods you with happy memories of eating pancakes with friends after a sleepover or feasting on waffles on a sleepy sunday morning however few realize the logo is incredibly problematic and after far too long. For over 100 years aunt jemima has been widely recognized for its buttery maple syrup and of course its somewhat nostalgic logo. After nancy green the original actress dies in 1923 she was replaced as aunt jemima by anna robinson a darker complected and heavier at 350lbs woman.
After aunt jemima s debut in 1893 her character was played by dozens of women in radio and eventually television commercials and in appearances at schools and country fairs. Mars which owns uncle ben s issued a statement on the product s brand evolution. Said the product branding for uncle ben s rice will evolve while quaker oats said it will discontinue the aunt jemima pancake and syrup brand to fight racism wcnc reported.
Joshua paladino liberty headlines mars inc. Blacks in advertising yesterday today and tomorrow author marilyn kern foxworth cited a 1932 study in which black men and women were asked their opinion. In aunt jemima uncle ben and rastus.
This image of mammy was impactful because it gave consumers a sense of southern plantation nostalgia a sense of southern hospitality and. While the brand aunt jemima had many factors that contributed to its early success it is undeniable that the mammy image was the major contributor to its ultimate success. Evolution of aunt jemima.
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.
The sweet face of aunt jemima most likely floods you with happy memories of eating pancakes with friends after a sleepover or feasting on waffles on a sleepy sunday morning however few realize the logo is incredibly problematic and after far too long. For over 100 years aunt jemima has been widely recognized for its buttery maple syrup and of course its somewhat nostalgic logo.
