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PSPS

(15,339 posts)
10. Why not "Lillian Richard's?"
Tue Feb 9, 2021, 08:03 PM
Feb 2021


Family Of Woman Who Portrayed Aunt Jemima Speaks Out About Quaker Oats's Rebranding Decision
June 29, 2020

Quaker Oats announced earlier this month it's rebranding Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup because of its racist history. But descendants of Lillian Richard, who portrayed Aunt Jemima for years, say the company decided to rename the brand without consulting the families of the women who brought the character to life.

While Vera Harris, Richard’s niece, supports the decision and the Black Lives Matter movement, Aunt Jemima represents a part of history for her family and the town of Hawkins, Texas. “Erasing my Aunt Lillian Richard would erase a part of history,” says Harris, who serves as family historian for the Richard family of Hawkins. “All of the people in my family are happy and proud of Aunt Lillian and what she accomplished.”

Aunt Jemima portrays the white, romanticized notion of an Antebellum “mammy,” detached from the cruel reality of enslavement during the late 19th century. The inspiration for the character came from the song “Old Aunt Jemima.” Starting at the World's Fair in 1893, a formerly enslaved woman named Nancy Green was the first to travel around the country wearing an apron and bandana as Aunt Jemima.

Richard served as one of 12 brand ambassadors starting in 1925. In Hawkins, a historical marker dedicated to her commemorates how she made a career during the time when Black women had very few opportunities.

More at: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/06/29/aunt-jemima-quaker-oats-rebrand

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Oh yah, that's gonna roll of the tongue for remembering a kennedy Feb 2021 #1
I scrolled down to read the replies, and have already forgotten the Politicub Feb 2021 #3
Yes, marketing fail. Sounds industrial. Does not invoke pancakes. nt SunSeeker Feb 2021 #5
That was my initial thought as well. Chainfire Feb 2021 #11
Yes, I kept reading it as Pearl MINING Company at first. hlthe2b Feb 2021 #14
Well, I already do. I like old historical names in general, and this one Hortensis Feb 2021 #35
It's a nod to the 19th-century company that created the original pancake mix. nt SunSeeker Feb 2021 #2
According to some historical accounts, the company didn't create the Blue_true Feb 2021 #19
Not a very tasty sounding name regardless. SunSeeker Feb 2021 #23
Yes, not the most inspired name. Blue_true Feb 2021 #25
No doubt the name change was in order. I'm just wondering if this "forgetabble" name won't be hlthe2b Feb 2021 #34
It's nice that they changed the label, but the horrid stuff inside the bottle is the same. Dem2theMax Feb 2021 #4
Wow, they even changed the pancake/syrup/pat of butter. Dagstead Bumwood Feb 2021 #6
I'm OK With It! ProfessorGAC Feb 2021 #7
Good. BumRushDaShow Feb 2021 #8
The new emblem is fugly. nt. Mariana Feb 2021 #9
I still call it KAF. I resent that they now have tishaLA Feb 2021 #30
I just call it "King Arthur" BumRushDaShow Feb 2021 #31
Why not "Lillian Richard's?" PSPS Feb 2021 #10
Gee, that might actually right a wrong or two. Jirel Feb 2021 #15
Because she wasn't the only one xmas74 Feb 2021 #17
No. BumRushDaShow Feb 2021 #32
I like cane syrup. Chainfire Feb 2021 #12
We've got a cane grinder and syrup vat here on the farm csziggy Feb 2021 #18
When I was a really young child, my dad would go to a syrup shack. Blue_true Feb 2021 #24
Yes, I remember going to Alabama in the early 1960s csziggy Feb 2021 #26
You are lucky to have direct access to that old country store. Blue_true Feb 2021 #28
This one is a National Register of Historic Places site csziggy Feb 2021 #33
Their spicy head cheese is great. Even better than their sausage. GulfCoast66 Feb 2021 #37
I am very familiar with Bradley's Chainfire Feb 2021 #40
You can have all of mine, then Retrograde Feb 2021 #29
Since they were changing the name seems like they could've found a better one Raine Feb 2021 #13
Thanks for the heads up ecstatic Feb 2021 #16
So is Pearl Milling a person or is it the Pearl MILLING Company? JDC Feb 2021 #20
Per their press statement: hlthe2b Feb 2021 #21
Thanks. I shoulda clicked into it. Appreciate this JDC Feb 2021 #22
Minnie Pearl Pancake Mix. Got it. FSogol Feb 2021 #39
Still the same sugar syrup. Go type 2! nt JanMichael Feb 2021 #27
If you're going to consume all that sugar, just go for the real thing: pure maple syrup. Vinca Feb 2021 #36
I never put syrup on pancakes, just a little butter Klaralven Feb 2021 #38
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