If you enjoyed some Aunt Jemima Syrup and Pancakes this morning, you will soon be pouring that syrup from a differently branded bottle.
I knew very little of the brands history and decided to do a little research of the character and the woman who inspired it- Nancy Green.
Born in 1834 in Kentucky, her parents were slaves and out of that life, Nancy became a storyteller, cook and activist. In 1890, she was hired by a marketing company in Missouri to become the face of "Aunt Jemima". A company had acquired the formula for a self rising flour. Known as the Quaker Oats brand today.
"Aunt Jemima" was a marketing character that was born out of the "Mammie" stereotype portrayed on a minstrel show . In 1893, Greene was introduced at a world's fair in Chicago where she was to operate a pancake-cooking display. It was her idea and recipe to add powdered milk to the self rising flour mix. Her spirit, friendliness and talent as a cook, helped the product reach a successful showing at the expo and she was given a medal and certificate from the world's fair organizers.
Once the Expo ended, Nancy Green was offered a lifetime contract to adopt the Aunt Jemima character and promote the pancake mix. She maintained her job with Davis Milling (which was renamed Aunt Jemima Mills Company in 1914) until her death in 1923.
The job as "Aunt Jemima" afforded her some financial freedom. From that success and freedom she was able to organize the Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago. During its heyday, the church was the largest African-American church in the United States, and the largest Protestant congregation in the world.
It goes without saying, that "Aunt Jemima" became symbolic for something much bigger than the characters history. The iconic picture on packages for 130 years represents the GOOD from a time when our country was trying to start a long process of making wrongs - right. Nancy Green represents service not out of slavery, but service for community. Her loving, kind soul and skill as a cook became the face for generations, of what is good. Struggles with a difficult life she was born to, Nancy Green was still very amicable and caring for others and that should not be forgotten with the removal of "Aunt Jamima".
A story teller, activist, cook and philanthropist, Nancy Green, in my opinion, should continue to be portrayed on the product she almost single-handedly created and the brand she built. Not as "Aunt Jemima", but as Nancy Green.