"Aunt Jamima" Logo Deemed Racist, Intolerant

[Zylka]

Calgary Herald, Sunday 13th July - 2003

The cherished logo used by American food giant Quaker for its famed "Aunt Jamima" line of pancake products will soon undergo an artistic facelift, say key company spokesman. Until recently, the heartwarming figure of a smiling African-American woman was printed on every bottle of syrup and box of pancake mix to be consumed at home in the United States or abroad & overseas at several prominent export markets. Concerns over alienation of minority populations in these regions; most importantly the former - prompted the decision to change the familiar face, as well as name.

"This is a step towards equality, a step away from stereotype" touts Willis Favre - a leading black rights advocate out of Chicago who pushed for the resolution. "Soon enough will come a new product to the shelves that I can feel comfortable bringing home to my children - one without a stamp of generalization that will have them confused and asking questions of their own role in society". Favre's dedication and resolve to the issue narrowly averted a court battle between Quaker and representatives of nearly 300 black citizens across the United States, most of whom presented the same concerns of an ever increasing, under-toned racism in American consumer culture.

The re-badge name of Quaker's popular line is said to be changed from "Aunt Jamima" to "Aunt Janice", while the logo will be changed to a more modern and universally suggestive, dark tanned soccer Mom figure. The first shipment slated to hit shelves across North America will come sometime late September, with extended export upgrades following shortly after.

Not much supplied, as it was crammed way back in the paper in a single column. I must say I'm surprised and outright laughing hysterically at this sign of the times. WOW!!!

[red_jon]

Has anyone got a picture of it?

[Drake Tungsten]

Pretty stupid move, getting rid of one of the most recognizable brand-names in America. Their sales are going to plummet.

[monkspider]

Boo! Aunt Jemima rocked.

[BustaMike]

Ya, that's pretty dumb.

Anyone ever see the SNL skit with Tracey Morgan doing Uncle Jamima's Mash Liquor? It was great.

[st_swithin]

You know, when I was a kid in Taiwan, we had toothpaste called 'Darkie'. It had a white man in blackface as its logo. I think they changed the name and logo, but I'm pretty sure that no-one there ever considered that it might be racist or offensive to anyone.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by red_jon
Has anyone got a picture of it?

something like this:



ACK!

[MichaeltheGreat]

And another victory over oppression!
35 years ago, it was Little Black Sambo from Sambo's restaurant, now we've liberated Aunt Jemima!



Someone should ship these whiny mother****ers to Africa or south Asia, Haiti, someplace like that, to see if they'd deign to apply their "energy" to trying to actually do something useful.

[red_jon]

She looks like one of the Lilt Ladies.

[BustaMike]

Little Black Sambo was kinda pushin' it though. It would be hard for anyone to claim that wasn't racist.

[Sava]

Aunt Jemima is the sh1t!!! booo for this decision!

edit: I guess I there isn't much hope my favorite detergent "clean my cotton, n****r" will survive the PC crackdown...

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
And another victory over oppression!
35 years ago, it was Little Black Sambo from Sambo's restaurant, now we've liberated Aunt Jemima!



Someone should ship these whiny mother****ers to Africa or south Asia, Haiti, someplace like that, to see if they'd deign to apply their "energy" to trying to actually do something useful.

Bingo. I was going to reference Sambo's myself.
Are Heckyl and Jeckyl on nickelodian ? Or anywhere?
Probably not.

Amos and Andy, I can understand that one.
That would be a little over the line these days.

[red_jon]

I remember Golly Wogs. They were quite dodgy

[Zylka]

Originally posted by Tuberski

AGHHHHHH! HOLY F*CK, KILL IT!!!

[SlowwHand]

Meds. 2nd shelf in the master bath.

[Zylka]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Meds. 2nd shelf in the master bath.

I can't help it... it's like a big brown zombie coming to stuff me full of doughy treats until I explode! Didn't they take that picture right before shooting it down off of the Empire State Building in the 20's?

[SlowwHand]

Be nice, Z.

[Zylka]

I think nice would be taking that monstrosity off of my breakfast products - I want to make pancakes here, not be thrown in a pot and boiled by African natives!

[mrmitchell]

I've only seen Aunt Jemima declared racist ONCE.

That was a parody of the PC movement anyways.

Sure, toss out one of the most recognized brands in American in favor of some cheap **** they drew up in an art room in a week.

What next? Where will the torment end?

[MrFun]

Originally posted by SlowwHand


Bingo. I was going to reference Sambo's myself.
Are Heckyl and Jeckyl on nickelodian ? Or anywhere?
Probably not.

Amos and Andy, I can understand that one.
That would be a little over the line these days.

A LITTLE over the line?
Amos and Andy was nothing better than a racist, minstrel show.

As for that Sambo name -- that is definitely deragatory.

But I suppose if one kow tows to conservative political correctness it's best not to be offended by anything racist, less you offend conservatives who are offended that you're offended.

[SlowwHand]

As I said, and you quoted, I understand that one.

Anything I say, you and "the other guy" feel it your duty to try and pick apart.
That's cool. I have broad shoulders. I can handle it.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by BustaMike
Ya, that's pretty dumb.

Anyone ever see the SNL skit with Tracey Morgan doing Uncle Jamima's Mash Liquor? It was great.

That was perhaps the funniest fake-ad that SNL ever produced.

Aunt Jemima: "You bringing our people down with that stuff!"

Uncle Jemima: "Well I don' zactly recall our people swellin' up wiff pride because o' yo pancake mix!"

[MrFun]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
As I said, and you quoted, I understand that one.

Anything I say, you and "the other guy" feel it your duty to try and pick apart.
That's cool. I have broad shoulders. I can handle it.

Sorry -- it just sounded like with the word "little" that you didn't think the show was racist.

Besides, you pick everything that Boris posts apart -- so I guess you know how it feels.

[SlowwHand]

Did RAH really say that? And he's pulling down oover 100k a year ?
Fascinating.



Did I utter "that" name, MrFun. No. I didn't.

[Sprayber]

I'm sure glad Mr. Fun is here to teach us what is acceptable and what is not.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by MrFun


A LITTLE over the line?
Amos and Andy was nothing better than a racist, minstrel show.

As for that Sambo name -- that is definitely deragatory.

But I suppose if one kow tows to conservative political correctness it's best not to be offended by anything racist, less you offend conservatives who are offended that you're offended.

Can you explain to us why Sambo is offensive without resorting to an internet search?

[mrmitchell]

Originally posted by Zylka

Calgary Herald, Sunday 13th July - 2003

The cherished logo used by American food giant Quaker for its famed "Aunt Jamima" line of pancake products will soon undergo an artistic facelift, say key company spokesman. Until recently, the heartwarming figure of a smiling African-American woman was printed on every bottle of syrup and box of pancake mix to be consumed at home in the United States or abroad & overseas at several prominent export markets. Concerns over alienation of minority populations in these regions; most importantly the former - prompted the decision to change the familiar face, as well as name.

"This is a step towards equality, a step away from stereotype" touts Willis Favre - a leading black rights advocate out of Chicago who pushed for the resolution. "Soon enough will come a new product to the shelves that I can feel comfortable bringing home to my children - one without a stamp of generalization that will have them confused and asking questions of their own role in society". Favre's dedication and resolve to the issue narrowly averted a court battle between Quaker and representatives of nearly 300 black citizens across the United States, most of whom presented the same concerns of an ever increasing, under-toned racism in American consumer culture.

The re-badge name of Quaker's popular line is said to be changed from "Aunt Jamima" to "Aunt Janice", while the logo will be changed to a more modern and universally suggestive, dark tanned soccer Mom figure. The first shipment slated to hit shelves across North America will come sometime late September, with extended export upgrades following shortly after.

Wait, they're CHANGING THE NAME TOO!?? Holy ****, these guys are off the deep end! No longer will references to their product be understood by generations of the future!

And "averted a court battle"...yes, sure, just _USE_ the courts like that. I honestly think Quaker could've won the case if they had the balls to take it.

I wonder whut ring of hell is reserved for touchy irritable brats who can't find anything important to ***** about.

[SlowwHand]

He's prejudiced against tigers who turn to butter.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by mrmitchell


Wait, they're CHANGING THE NAME TOO!?? Holy ****, these guys are off the deep end! No longer will references to their product be understood by generations of the future!

And "averted a court battle"...yes, sure, just _USE_ the courts like that. I honestly think Quaker could've won the case if they had the balls to take it.

I wonder whut ring of hell is reserved for touchy irritable brats who can't find anything important to ***** about.

I'm not sure, but it seems we live there.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Sikander


Can you explain to us why Sambo is offensive without resorting to an internet search?

IIRC, Sambo was a simple name given to some slaves by slave owners.