Aunt Jemima, one of the most popular brands of syrup, pancake mix, and many more breakfast foods, is removing its image and replacing its name due to the recent tragedies of racial injustice all over the U.S. and how these events relate to the character Aunt Jemima.

To understand why the companies that own the Aunt Jemima brand, PepsiCo and Quaker Oats, are making this drastic change needs some background about the story of “Aunt Jemima.” Aunt Jemima was a character made for minstrel shows, performances in the 19th century where actors performed skits, dances, and musical gigs with blackface on. Aunt Jemima represented the epitome of a “Mammy,” a black housemaid or nanny, that every white household would desire. Since minstrel shows were the only “real” form of black culture and life that white people in the 19th century had, the passive, loyal, and cheerful Aunt Jemima was embraced as a correct representation of black people.

Then, in 1889, the founders of the Pearl Milling Company, Charles Rutt and Chris Underwood, made Aunt Jemima into a real spokesperson for their pancake mix. One year later, Nancy Green, a 56-year-old black widow who was born a slave, was hired for that role. Although the pancake mix gained massive popularity due to the Aunt Jemima character being loved and accepted by families all over the U.S., 33 years later, Nancy Green was killed by a car and buried in a forgotten place in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago with no headstone. Her burial site was only found 5 years ago by Sherry Williams and in March this year, Williams finally got the approval to fundraise and provide a gravestone for the forgotten actress.

The vice president and chief marketing officer of Quaker Foods North America, Kristin Kroepfl, says that “We recognize Aunt Jemima's origins are based on a racial stereotype … 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.” PepsiCo’s CEO, Ramon Laguarta, announced that “Even though I wasn’t born in the United States, I am passionate about [racial inequality]. My parents raised me to believe that all people are equal, that diversity is a reflection of our common humanity.”

Ramon Laguarta has also announced a plan for spending more than $400 million over the course of five years to help black communities and increase black representation at PepsiCo.

by Kevin Lee