RIP Aunt Jemima
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...when I was very young, my mum save up a load of jam labels, and got me and my brother one of these each...
...it's probably still at the house somewhere.
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@Klaus said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
Can somebody explain that name to me?
The name is biblical, I have a friend (British Jew) who named his daughter that. I've never heard of the name in the US except for Aunt Jemima.
The image on the bottle is an old-style southern 'mammy' of the kind white people used to hire as house keepers and caregivers to their kids. I guess over time the image and name got associated with that type of subservient relationship.
Only non-witches get due process.
- Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
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I have to say, when we first came over, I was rather taken aback by the Aunt Jemima stuff. I didn't grow up with it of course, but I saw the picture and immediately thought, 'ah, welcome back to the 1960's....'.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just a dumb old Brit who doesn't know anything. Still....
@Doctor-Phibes said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
I have to say, when we first came over, I was rather taken aback by the Aunt Jemima stuff. I didn't grow up with it of course, but I saw the picture and immediately thought, 'ah, welcome back to the 1960's....'.
I feel like this is the perfect example of injecting race into something that isn't there. Sure, maybe 50 or 100 years ago there was a less sensitive history/portrayal of Aunt Jemima, but all it is is a picture of a black woman as if this is her "syrup recipe". I have an Aunt Sarah, and there's a pancake restaurant I've passed before called "Aunt Sarah's Pancake House"... how is this any different?
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How many black people were portrayed in normal ways in the media back in the 60's? How many black film stars were there who didn't have to yuck it up?
The thought that all this deeply embedded stuff just goes away because white people say it has gone away seems a little optimistic.
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@Klaus said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
Can somebody explain that name to me?
The name is biblical, I have a friend (British Jew) who named his daughter that. I've never heard of the name in the US except for Aunt Jemima.
The image on the bottle is an old-style southern 'mammy' of the kind white people used to hire as house keepers and caregivers to their kids. I guess over time the image and name got associated with that type of subservient relationship.
@jon-nyc said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
@Klaus said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
Can somebody explain that name to me?
The name is biblical, I have a friend (British Jew) who named his daughter that. I've never heard of the name in the US except for Aunt Jemima.
The image on the bottle is an old-style southern 'mammy' of the kind white people used to hire as house keepers and caregivers to their kids. I guess over time the image and name got associated with that type of subservient relationship.
I think the original image was to convey the message of a happy cook. In the early days of the brand, there were a lot of black people who cooked for the wealthy (at least down here) and it was well known that black people were superior cooks (ever walked through a restaurant kitchen in New Orleans?).
The look was updated several years ago and as you said, the name is Biblical. To quote Copper, idiots.
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Growing up, my grandpa in Baltimore had a (black) chef that would always cook during special holiday events. She made the BEST fried chicken among other foods. Honestly, she looked like the left version of Aunt Jemima above. It would be a COMPLIMENT to associate her name/face with delicious food.
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I have to say, when we first came over, I was rather taken aback by the Aunt Jemima stuff. I didn't grow up with it of course, but I saw the picture and immediately thought, 'ah, welcome back to the 1960's....'.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just a dumb old Brit who doesn't know anything. Still....
@Doctor-Phibes said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
I didn't grow up with it of course, but I saw the picture and immediately thought, 'ah, welcome back to the 1960's....'.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just a dumb old Brit who doesn't know anything. Still....
I think the brand was well known and respected, that was the message from the commercials
I don't think there was ever any disrespect associated with it
She certainly wasn't treated as a lower class or anything, at least I don't remember it like that
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When I was growing up, the best selling toothpaste brand was a brand called "Darkie". It had a picture of a black person with shiny white teeth. I did not think anything of it, as I had never see a black person before. But looking back, I can see how it was pretty offensive.
20 years ago (or maybe a bit more), the company changed the name to Darlie, and changed the picture on the package cover.
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@Doctor-Phibes said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
I didn't grow up with it of course, but I saw the picture and immediately thought, 'ah, welcome back to the 1960's....'.
Yeah, yeah, I'm just a dumb old Brit who doesn't know anything. Still....
I think the brand was well known and respected, that was the message from the commercials
I don't think there was ever any disrespect associated with it
She certainly wasn't treated as a lower class or anything, at least I don't remember it like that
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@Rainman said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
@Mik said in RIP Aunt Jemima:
Mik, your pics didn't show, at least for me.
What, you’re claiming discrimination?
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You know what's really racist. Immigrant grandmas. I have one. HOO-BOY!
I'm more interested in what this does to Aunt Jemima's market position. I think it's the top mass market brand. I thinking they'll try to keep it pretty close to on-brand "Aunt Jem" with similar colors or something.
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I'm wondering whether this branding issue is connected to another labelling change I've noticed of late, as I'm sure you have. That is the
stupidificationsimplification of prep and handling instructions printed on packaged foods packaging.The first time I noticed this was on a package of something that needed to be heated for 30" in a 375 oven. The instruction panel said, "Careful when removing your (package name) from the oven. Contents will be HOT!" HOT having a wavy line under it, to reinforce the hot part.
Also, my pull-tab tuna cans now come with instructions on how to open the can, including a sketch of fingers looped into the pull tab and instructions on which direction to pull it in. Kid thee not.
