Aunt Jemima brand to change name, remove image that Quaker says is 'based on a racial stereotype'

If the founders of Aunt Jemima & Uncle Ben's products had indeed been people named Jemima and Ben, and whose own images were on the products, this wouldn't be a conversation. That's not what happened though. Companies exploited and perpetuated racist stereotypical associations of African-American kitchen slaves or servants by the use of those names and images.

Product lines featuring Martha Stuart, Gordon Ramsey, Colonel Sanders, Chef Boyardee and others are not similarly exploitative because those folks endorsed or created the products bearing their names and likenesses.

It's neither Orwellian nor revisionist history to move forward as a culture grows.

Pre-1960s, Madison Avenue generally depicted women within narrow stereotypical confines. Such vain, shallow, not terribly bright creatures. A little daffy, plenty gossipy, desperate to marry, always sleuthing for new recipes and time-saving appliances, deeply concerned about dishpan hands, ring around the collar and why our husbands won't drink a second cup of coffee at home but indulge at a friend's house. Fortunately we women took good care of ourselves by taking Geritol (hoping our husbands would also magnanimously proclaim, "My wife, I think I'll keep her.")

Perhaps we return to those good old days, too, or is that a bridge too far?
 

StarSong said:
If the founders of Aunt Jemima & Uncle Ben's products had indeed been people named Jemima and Ben, and whose own images were on the products, this wouldn't be a conversation. That's not what happened though. Companies exploited and perpetuated racist stereotypical associations of African-American kitchen slaves or servants by the use of those names and images.

Product lines featuring Martha Stuart, Gordon Ramsey, Colonel Sanders, Chef Boyardee and others are not similarly exploitative because those folks endorsed or created the products bearing their names and likenesses.

It's neither Orwellian nor revisionist history to move forward as a culture grows.

Pre-1960s, Madison Avenue generally depicted women within narrow stereotypical confines. Such vain, shallow, not terribly bright creatures. A little daffy, plenty gossipy, desperate to marry, always sleuthing for new recipes and time-saving appliances, deeply concerned about dishpan hands, ring around the collar and why our husbands won't drink a second cup of coffee at home but indulge at a friend's house. Fortunately we women took good care of ourselves by taking Geritol (hoping our husbands would also magnanimously proclaim, "My wife, I think I'll keep her.")

Perhaps we return to those good old days, too, or is that a bridge too far?
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JMO, but I always thought Orwell and his thoughts of a Totalitarian government was absurd and dangerous.
 
gennie said:
I did too but it's growing less so every day. Maybe Orwell just got the date wrong
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I always thought of it as something out of "The Twilight Zone." All each of us has to do is to remember to breath. The government will provide us with a day to day agenda. Just follow the instructions and all will be well.
 
There's another brand that I refuse to buy: Grandma's. Grandma's Cookies, Grandma's Mac & Cheese, etc. There's a whole line of such products. A little too manipulative for my tastes.
 
StarSong said:
If the founders of Aunt Jemima & Uncle Ben's products had indeed been people named Jemima and Ben, and whose own images were on the products, this wouldn't be a conversation. That's not what happened though. Companies exploited and perpetuated racist stereotypical associations of African-American kitchen slaves or servants by the use of those names and images.

Product lines featuring Martha Stuart, Gordon Ramsey, Colonel Sanders, Chef Boyardee and others are not similarly exploitative because those folks endorsed or created the products bearing their names and likenesses.

It's neither Orwellian nor revisionist history to move forward as a culture grows.

Pre-1960s, Madison Avenue generally depicted women within narrow stereotypical confines. Such vain, shallow, not terribly bright creatures. A little daffy, plenty gossipy, desperate to marry, always sleuthing for new recipes and time-saving appliances, deeply concerned about dishpan hands, ring around the collar and why our husbands won't drink a second cup of coffee at home but indulge at a friend's house. Fortunately we women took good care of ourselves by taking Geritol (hoping our husbands would also magnanimously proclaim, "My wife, I think I'll keep her.")

Perhaps we return to those good old days, too, or is that a bridge too far?
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Exactly.

Others know this, but they're too busy with yukyuks, LOLs, and whining about "all this PC crap".
 
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RadishRose said:
Honestly, these food corporations are terrified they'll lose money if blacks and others boycott their products. It's ONLY about money folks!

They pretend they are changing to match their "corporate values". Those values are m.o.n.e.y. If I were black I'd consider this an insult. I consider it an insult anyway. It's just a kiss up- they don't care about us or our feelings. Just wallets.

In fact, if I bought pancake mix, I would boycott their new trademark. Any maple syrup I'd buy would be pure, anyway. This is all a greedy fakeout,

Thanks for listening.
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Of course. Any chance to for product advertisement at any cost. It’s always about money. There’s always a money trail to follow. Moral intentions have little to do with it but if everyone else is doing it so will they.
 
Keesha said:
Of course. Any chance to for product advertisement at any cost. It’s always about money. There’s always a money trail to follow. Moral intentions have little to do with it but if everyone else is doing it so will they.
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Not necessarily.
On "Mad Men" there was a storyline where Pete Campbell encouraged the execs of Admiral television to advertise in Jet and Ebony magazine. They refused, saying they didn't want to be known as the "TV company for coloreds".
Pete had talked to a few black people and found out they bought Admiral TVs. He was right, but the execs at Admiral wouldn't budge.
 
applecruncher said:
Not necessarily.
On "Mad Men" there was a storyline where Pete Campbell encouraged the execs of Admiral television to advertise in Jet and Ebony magazine. They refused, saying they didn't want to be known as the "TV company for coloreds".
Pete had talked to a few black people and found out they bought Admiral TVs. He was right, but the execs at Admiral wouldn't budge.
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I’m not saying there are no business people with moral integrity. Just not many. Plus I don’t mind being proved wrong.
 
Pepper said:
The Mad Men story is fiction for television, so unless it has factual basis I don't understand why you're using it as an example.
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Actually, it IS fact. It really happened. Do a little research. So maybe you should get your facts straight before you come into a discussion fronting off about something you know nothing about.
 
I don't really care about the "hype" or name on the packaging when I buy a food product....the ingredients and quality are all I care about. I like pancakes or waffles for breakfast, and I tried "Aunt Jemima" once....then promptly went back to the "Hungry Jack" brand....better tasting, and better waffles, IMO.

If "jockeying around" the names and pictures on the packaging makes some people feel better, so be it.

Between this Corona Virus, and these Protests, I'm beginning to think that a sizeable portion of our population is totally Nuts.
 
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