Aunt Jemima is retiring
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (120059)
United States
June 17, 2020 10:19am CST
Quaker Oats announced that it is retiring the Aunt Jemima brand of syrup citing the fact that its history is based on a racist depiction of slaves that worked as "mammies" that cared for white children. The brand is based on a song called "Old Aunt Jemima" that was sung by slaves.
I haven't seen any outrage about this yet but I'm sure it is coming. People will flip out and cry that it has nothing to do with racism and that they are tired of political correctness.
Me? Personally I have no strong feelings about this situation. I am not offended by the brand's name but I also am not African-American and a descendent of slaves.
What do you think about this?
Quaker Oats is retiring the more than 130-year-old Aunt Jemima brand and logo, acknowledging its origins are based on a racial stereotype.
7 people like this
8 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (50597)
• United States
17 Jun 20
We just heard this on the Today Show. My husband who is black was never offended by it and said what’s next , Uncle Ben’s rice ?
5 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83074)
• United States
17 Jun 20
@Tampa_girl7 I never thought about Uncle Bens but I'm sure it will be the next thing
3 people like this
@Bensen32 (27743)
• United States
17 Jun 20
I think it is foolish, I am not for political correctness at all. I once heard something that goes a little like this. If we don't learn from history we are bound to repeat it. So my thought on all this tearing down statues, changing branding, doing away with anything that might relate to slavery, we are trying to erase history.
I think the better thing is to teach our children how it was wrong and that it should never happen, not try and hide it like it never happened.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83074)
• United States
17 Jun 20
I agree @Bensen32. We can only learn from history so as not to repeat it
2 people like this
@Bensen32 (27743)
• United States
17 Jun 20
@Marilynda1225 Seems "we" (some in our society) think it more important to save someone's feelings than it is to learn from our past.
But, but I'm offended, yeah and so what, get over it.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jun 20
Best syrup that I have tasted...Thats my only opinion, nothing to do with politics.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83074)
• United States
17 Jun 20
I guess I can understand the branding but I hope they don't discontinue the syrup.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 20
Why don't they just redesign the bottle and rename it something else, instead of retiring the brand? Wouldn't that be much easier?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 20
@NJChicaa I was just thinking, they can really generate some publicity on this if they handle it correctly. They should reach out to the African-American community and run some type of contest or voting to come up with a new name and a new bottle design. Get the community engaged and excited to participate in the product redesign.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
17 Jun 20
I think sometimes they carry things a little too far. It's been OK for decades. I wonder what they will replace it with.
1 person likes this
@ricki_911 (21625)
• Toronto, Ontario
17 Jun 20
I was just reading this online when a friend shared it. I think this is going overboard. I dont have any feelings but I find the ones who are preaching any of this are weak people in general. No offence to my friend but she one of those insecure needy attention seeking. Only person I see screaming and preaching . I get the basis around it but what is will this do?.
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
17 Jun 20
I like to leave whether something is offensive or not up to the minority that's affected. I have no problem with them changing it, I'd much rather be on the sensitive side. In my opinion,when things are changed it's not to erase history, it's to cease to honor it.
1 person likes this
