With race at the center of global dialogue, brands are speedily attempting to cut ties with practices that are deemed racially insensitive.
Case in point Quaker Oaks.
For, the food giant has announced that it’s shuttered its Aunt Jemima brand after 130 years.
Full story below…
Acknowledging that the line is rooted in a problematic racial stereotype, the Pepsi-owned company said in a statement:
“As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations.”
As CNN notes, Aunt Jemima’s appearance has shape-shifted over time. Its origin and logo are based off the song “Old Aunt Jemima” from a minstrel show performer and was sung by slaves.
Officially, Aunt Jemima (which was started in 1890) is billed as being based on Nancy Green — a “storyteller, cook and missionary worker.”
What hadn’t been acknowledged prominently ’til his point, though, is the fact that Green was born into slavery.
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