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-PC Follies |
Family of woman who portrayed Aunt Jemima opposes move to rebrand |
2020-06-22 |
Vera Harris said the family takes pride in Quaker Oates scouting her second cousin Lillian Richard to become a brand representative in 1925, news station KLTV reported. "She was considered a hero in [her hometown of] Hawkins, and we are proud of that. We do not want that history erased," Harris said. Harris said Richard worked for the company for 23 years, traveling around as Aunt Jemima to serve pancakes until she suffered a stroke. "She made an honest living out of it for a number of years. She toured around Texas," Harris said, noting there "wasn’t a lot of jobs, especially for black women back in that time." Harris said the family was upset by Quaker Oates’ announcement last week that it would rebrand Aunt Jemima products because the character’s origins are "based on a racial stereotype." "We want the world to know that our cousin Lillian was one of the Aunt Jemimas and she made an honest living. We would ask that you reconsider just wiping all that away," Harris said. "I wish we would take a breath and not just get rid of everything, because good or bad, it is our history. Removing that wipes away a part of me — a part of each of us." |
Posted by:Besoeker |
#9 I think this is the same family that wanted more money for her services....as I recall. |
Posted by: crazyhorse 2020-06-22 10:24 |
#8 And the Messicans actually work and are mostly honest. |
Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-06-22 08:59 |
#7 Well, them upper class white pseudo-religious are ashamed of their own families history of employing people of color to do their domestic labor. Besides, today its Tia Maria and Tio Marco from Central America doing the same work for them. |
Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-06-22 07:49 |
#5 Quaker Oats had better stick with what they've got. No claims of the dreaded 'racial appropriation' of product names in nearly 100 years. Difficult record to break. Jemima, Amos, Andy, appear to be names no longer in vogue. |
Posted by: Besoeker 2020-06-22 06:31 |
#4 I can't wait to not buy this product. |
Posted by: Clem 2020-06-22 05:31 |
#3 Replace her with a pic of George Floyd or Rayshard Brooks - it's sure to increase sales. |
Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-06-22 03:19 |
#2 No Blacks on brands! To fight racism and encourage diversity! |
Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2020-06-22 03:09 |
#1 They didn't cash in before but they're going for it now. |
Posted by: M. Murcek 2020-06-22 02:49 |