Aunt Jemima Is No More

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
It looks like Quaker Oats is retiring the Aunt Jemima brand. Confederate statues are being torn down. Also an actor I like on the Flash has been fired for old racist tweets.

It seems that the current political situation is making a lot of companies and even governments drop anything even remotely racist.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Aunt Jemima is based on a Mammy stereotype, but hasn't really looked like a Mammy in a while. I mean, I'm not against getting rid of the branding, but I'm not for it either. The whole thing just seems like a very superficial and pointless gesture. The tearing down of the confederate statues I'm a little bit more supportive of, but still feel like there are more important things to worry about.

What do you guys think of moves like this? Are they pointless and stupid? Or do they really mark a turning point in US race relations?
 

Call_Me_Dave

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
May 3, 2020
Posts
1,910
Media
1
Likes
6,075
Points
308
Location
Fart, Uttarakhand, India
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
The history of the logo is bad. The original woman was never paid for her likeness to be used. Same for Uncle Ben. Just because we are ignorant of the history of something or doesn’t mean we should be complacent. It does no damage to repair a wrong like this, and it’s never too late. Anyone who gets their panties in a bunch over this or anything similar is either lazy, or may have their own issues. People were crying that Land O’Lakes changed their logo, like it matters if they’re angry. They gain new customers for changing, and they lose them. But the change will always appear as a positive one.
 

Candela

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
May 4, 2020
Posts
723
Media
24
Likes
2,549
Points
388
Location
Ft. Lauderdale (Florida, United States)
Verification
View
Sexuality
No Response
Gender
Female
Its never too late to right a wrong!
Many of these things were made before any of us were born and nobody ever thought that in years to come , Many of these things were racist.
I applaud the people for standing up to these things as stuff like this has made people simmer for years.
JMO
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
The history of the logo is bad. The original woman was never paid for her likeness to be used. Same for Uncle Ben. Just because we are ignorant of the history of something or doesn’t mean we should be complacent. It does no damage to repair a wrong like this, and it’s never too late. Anyone who gets their panties in a bunch over this or anything similar is either lazy, or may have their own issues. People were crying that Land O’Lakes changed their logo, like it matters if they’re angry. They gain new customers for changing, and they lose them. But the change will always appear as a positive one.
Its never too late to right a wrong!
Many of these things were made before any of us were born and nobody ever thought that in years to come , Many of these things were racist.
I applaud the people for standing up to these things as stuff like this has made people simmer for years.
JMO

I don't disagree with either of you. I do wonder if this being an issue is a sign of just how bad things really are and just how entrenched racism is.
 

keenobserver

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Posts
8,550
Media
0
Likes
13,945
Points
433
Location
east coast usa
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I don't disagree with either of you. I do wonder if this being an issue is a sign of just how bad things really are and just how entrenched racism is.

The cancellation of both brands is in its best light a pre-emptive strike These images have been on the radar for a while, but bigger issues are boiling so corporate decided it looked better to act now, rather than wait to be a target again given the current awareness sweeping the nation. Frankly it is amazing that the images lasted this long. Quaker in it's announcement noted that the image was 'born out of a racist stereotype' 130 years ago. When you go back to origins like that, there is no 'repair' left to make.

Images like this have been around so long, yes, it is entrenched. Most of us who are white are oblivious to it because it does not impact us directly. I can remember over the years when friend of mine who are minorities have commented about images like this or white appropriation of black culture the feedback they get is that they are just being 'too sensitive' or trying to 'play the race card.'
 
  • Like
Reactions: b.c.

Candela

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
May 4, 2020
Posts
723
Media
24
Likes
2,549
Points
388
Location
Ft. Lauderdale (Florida, United States)
Verification
View
Sexuality
No Response
Gender
Female
I don't disagree with either of you. I do wonder if this being an issue is a sign of just how bad things really are and just how entrenched racism is.

I think its also a sign of how bad things really were for people of color.
Growing up I never knew or heard of racism, I am like many baby boomers that were not educated to really what is the evils of the white man and what they done to these people. If monuments and statues and flags are showing racism, Then I am all for taking them down. The sad thing is this has been past down to the younger generation who are angry at us and sadly we have people who are just plain racist! They now have a voice that needs to be heard .Its really is sad at what these people endured and I do feel for them!
USA is not a suppressed country!!
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
So I decided to look up old Aunt Jemima ads. As expected they were pretty racist. It's amazing that this character was allowed to continue for decades. It is also amazing just how much anti-black racism is baked into American society and the form that racism took in the past. White people at this time in history didn't want to be around black people as equals, but they still wanted black people around as their happy, helpful servants. I wonder if this is how other caste systems worked?

You can see the ads yourself below.

589d64b567eb6a341d65936db89450e0.jpg


65e714950a812074e68225e9501c1fa0.jpg
auntjemima.jpg
b248eb5ef0e0649a42a42ea74c5ce8b5.jpg
c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_470-2.jpg
c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_470.jpg
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States

I know this a little bit old, but it is relevant to the thread.

Lies. She is spewing nothing but lies and half truths. Focusing on the Aunt Jemima stuff, Nancy Green was someone they hired to portray Aunt Jemima at public events. There is no record Nancy Green ever becoming a millionaire based on those appearances. Aunt Jemima was a fictional character based off a minstrel show character. The whole idea was to show a happy slave serving white people. Just racist bullshit.

Conservatives love to talk about history, but they're the first ones to make shit up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: keenobserver
8

885840

Guest
I don't know if things are different now in public schools (I guess it also depends on which state / local board of Education a student is subject too), but I honestly had no idea what "blackface", "minstrel shows", or the larger racial stereotypes that existed of Black / African Americans in our media and culture. It wasn't until I took a course during my undergrad years that my eyes finally opened and I re-evaluated all my behaviors in my life. So, I can see why the average American who has not been properly educated in the history behind the racist branding that Aunt Jemima represents would be upset that their favorite syrup / breakfast product is going away. It's sad that it takes the death of a human being to prod our society a few steps forward with righting the wrongs that have historically existed in our culture.

I am very supportive of the removal of Aunt Jemima branding / products, as well as Uncle Ben's. Sadly, there is still ways to go to eliminate these stereotypes from our culture.
 
8

885840

Guest
^^^ And by the way, there's no reason they have to stop selling the fucking syrup or the fucking breakfast product. We're just talking about changing the damn packaging. People have survived worse than that.

I am not sure what the plans for the product are, I actually like the actual Syrup and breakfast products, just the branding makes me cringe. I hope they rebrand the products with something that has nothing to do with a human being period. Whether or not they continue the product with new branding, or discontinue it, I think will dependent on surveying of random customers and gauging their reaction to the new branding.

Another syrup brand that is going through some sort of rebranding is Mrs Butterworths. I really hope they don't discontinue that particular syrup because its my favorite. They can call it "Shit in a bottle" for all I care, I just don't want my favorite syrup to go away.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Reactions: Klingsor

Klingsor

Worshipped Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2011
Posts
10,888
Media
4
Likes
11,638
Points
293
Location
Champaign (Illinois, United States)
Sexuality
80% Straight, 20% Gay
Gender
Male
Another syrup brand that is going through some sort of rebranding is Mrs Butterworths. I really hope they don't discontinue that particular syrup because its my favorite. They can call it "Shit in a bottle" for all I care, I just don't want my favorite syrup to go away.

If they called it "Shit in a bottle," I just might have to try some. Gotta respect truth in advertising! :)
 

keenobserver

Worshipped Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Posts
8,550
Media
0
Likes
13,945
Points
433
Location
east coast usa
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
I am not sure what the plans for the product are, I actually like the actual Syrup and breakfast products, just the branding makes me cringe. I hope they rebrand the products with something that has nothing to do with a human being period. Whether or not they continue the product with new branding, or discontinue it, I think will dependent on surveying of random customers and gauging their reaction to the new branding.

Another syrup brand that is going through some sort of rebranding is Mrs Butterworths. I really hope they don't discontinue that particular syrup because its my favorite. They can call it "Shit in a bottle" for all I care, I just don't want my favorite syrup to go away.

Mrs. B's syrup name and branding is undergoing review by Con Agra, the owner. Some published reports claim the syrup was based on Butterfly McQueen, the actress who played Prissy in Gone With the Wind. While Con Agra has usually had the character voiced by white actress and intended the bottle to look like everyone's grandmother, the fact it appears to be a domestic who is brown skinned is an issue. Expect the syrup to continue under a new name - "Shit in a bottle" remains possible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Klingsor
8

885840

Guest
Mrs. B's syrup name and branding is undergoing review by Con Agra, the owner. Some published reports claim the syrup was based on Butterfly McQueen, the actress who played Prissy in Gone With the Wind. While Con Agra has usually had the character voiced by white actress and intended the bottle to look like everyone's grandmother, the fact it appears to be a domestic who is brown skinned is an issue. Expect the syrup to continue under a new name - "Shit in a bottle" remains possible.

If it weren't for the fact the branding featured a human, the name "Mrs Butterworths" alone doesn't illicitly imply any race. I think for Mrs. B's, the rebranding is much easier than "Aunt Jemima", I think Con Agra can get away with just calling the product "Butterworth's".
 

Industrialsize

Mythical Member
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Posts
22,237
Media
213
Likes
31,757
Points
618
Location
Kathmandu (Bagmati Province, Nepal)
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Any maple syrup that expensive better increase the size of my dick and make me lose weight.
That's how much REAL maple syrup costs. Brands like Aunt Jemima sell something called "syrup." It's main ingredients are high fructose corn syrup, water, and caramel coloring. Real maple syrup is a natural product harvested from maple trees. It is very labor intensive to produce and tastes nothing like "syrup" you buy for a few dollars.
 

wallyj84

Superior Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Posts
7,023
Media
0
Likes
3,954
Points
333
Location
United States
That's how much REAL maple syrup costs. Brands like Aunt Jemima sell something called "syrup." It's main ingredients are high fructose corn syrup, water, and caramel coloring. Real maple syrup is a natural product harvested from maple trees. It is very labor intensive to produce and tastes nothing like "syrup" you buy for a few dollars.

Real maple syrup is overpriced.
 

Squirrel1

Worshipped Member
Staff
Moderator
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Jul 22, 2017
Posts
17,168
Media
25
Likes
13,151
Points
533
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Male