Quaker Oats Discontinues “Aunt Jemima” Brand

When Quaker Oats announced the discontinuation of their “Aunt Jemima” brand in 2020, it sparked significant controversy. The decision aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement and aimed to address concerns over racial imagery.

Family’s Objection

However, just one day after the announcement, Larnell Evans Sr., the great-grandson of Aunt Jemima, voiced his objections. He argued that this choice would erase important aspects of Black history and the suffering that came with it.

“This is an injustice for me and my family,” Evans stated. “This is part of my history.” He expressed frustration over the company profiting from slavery while now appearing to denounce it.

Hurtful Erasure of History

Evans criticized Quaker Oats for erasing his great-grandmother’s legacy. “The racism they talk about comes from the other side—white people. This company profits off images of our slavery, and their answer is to erase my great-grandmother’s history. It hurts,” he said.

Quaker Oats confirmed that the brand, which features the image of Nancy Green—a woman born into slavery—would be permanently withdrawn. While they referred to her as a “storyteller, cook, and missionary worker,” sources emphasize her history as an enslaved person.

A Legacy of Service

The “Aunt Jemima” brand originated when Green served pancakes at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. After Anna Short Harrington took on the role in 1935, she became the face of Aunt Jemima. Evans asserts that Harrington is his great-grandmother.

“She worked for Quaker Oats for 20 years,” Evans recalled. “She traveled around the U.S. and Canada, making pancakes as Aunt Jemima.”

A Question of Legacy

Evans lamented the loss of his family’s legacy. “This woman served all those people after slavery. That was her job. How do you think I feel as a Black man discussing my family history that they’re trying to erase?”

He criticized the partnership for exploiting racial stereotypes only to abandon them when it became convenient.

“How many white people grew up seeing characters like Aunt Jemima at breakfast? How many corporations profited from this without giving us a dime?” Evans asked.

The Right to Remember

Evans expressed anger over the erasure of history. “Are they just going to pretend it didn’t happen? They’re not going to give us anything? What gives them the right?”