“Aunt Jemima’s” Great-Grandson Angry That Her Legacy Is Being Scrapped: “It’s Injustice To My Family”

When Quaker Oats declared the discontinuation of their "Aunt Jemima" brand in 2020 in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, it sparked considerable controversy.

Just one day after the announcement, a great-grandson of "Aunt Jemima" voiced his objection, arguing that the decision would only contribute to the erasure of black history and suffering, an injustice in his eyes. Marine Corps veteran Larnell Evans Sr. expressed his concern, stating, "This is a part of my history. After profiting from slavery for many years, the business now faces accusations of trying to erase it."

According to Evans Sr., the racism associated with the brand's imagery originated from the other side — white people. He criticized the company for profiting from images of slavery and lamented the decision to erase his great-grandmother's history, emphasizing her identity as a black woman and the pain it caused him.

Quaker Oats confirmed the permanent withdrawal of the brand, featuring an emblem of a black lady named Nancy Green, once an enslaved person. Green, born into slavery, was labeled by Quaker as a "storyteller, cook, and missionary worker," according to sources.

The "Aunt Jemima" brand emerged when Green served pancakes at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. After witnessing Anna Short Harrington at the New York State Fair, a Quaker Oats representative posthumously named her "Aunt Jemima" in 1923. Larnell Evans Sr. claimed Harrington, his great-grandmother, took on the role in 1935.

Evans Sr. emphasized Harrington's 20-year tenure with Quaker Oats, traveling across the United States and Canada as Aunt Jemima, post-slavery. He questioned the erasure of this history and expressed his dismay as a black man recounting his family's story.

Upset that the company exploited a racial stereotype for profit and swiftly abandoned it for convenience, especially considering the removal of the name, Evans Sr. questioned the morality of the corporation. He highlighted the impact of racial stereotypes on white individuals raised with characters like Aunt Jemima and criticized corporations that profited without contributing to the black community.

The article concludes by inviting readers to share their opinions on the issue in the comment section, encouraging those who support the Black Lives Matter movement to share the article on Facebook.