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101-690: Aunt Jemima was modeled after, and has been a famous example of, the "Mammy" archetype in the Southern United States . Due to the "Mammy" stereotype's historical ties to the Jim Crow era, Quaker Oats announced in June 2020 that the Aunt Jemima brand would be discontinued "to make progress toward racial equality", leading to the Aunt Jemima image being removed by the fourth quarter of 2020. In June 2021, amidst heightened racial unrest in

202-460: A vaudeville house in St. Joseph, Missouri. Aunt Jemima was portrayed by Nancy Green of Montgomery County, Kentucky . In 1915, the well-known Aunt Jemima brand was the basis for a trademark law ruling that set a new precedent. Previously, United States trademark law had protected against infringement by other sellers of the same product, but under the "Aunt Jemima Doctrine", the seller of pancake mix

303-438: A wet nurse , even though there is a possibility that she can perform either of these tasks. In some of the wealthier households, the fictional mammy has assistants who would help her take care of the household's children. These women are often much younger than the mammy herself. The mammy, unlike other slaves, is usually not up for sale, and the children of the mammy are kept in the same family for as long as possible, retaining

404-406: A Nubian princess for a costume contest at school. When she won, she was referred to as " Aunt Jemima ". The incident was traumatic for her because she felt that was how people saw her. Nowadays, stereotypical or controlling images of Black women reflect the economic, legal, and social changes that have occurred to Black people over the past 50-60 years. The images are also reflective of a society as

505-462: A fictional article about a similar announcement. Descendants of Aunt Jemima models Lillian Richard and Anna Short Harrington objected to the change. Vera Harris, a family historian for Richard's family, said "I wish we would take a breath and not just get rid of everything. Because good or bad, it is our history." Harris further stated "Erasing my Aunt Lillian Richard would erase a part of history." Harrington's great-grandson Larnell Evans said "This

606-707: A form to oppose the description of slavery given by abolitionists. One of the earliest fictionalized versions of the mammy figure is Aunt Chloe in Harriet Beecher Stowe 's Uncle Tom's Cabin , first published in 1852. Some scholars see the mammy figure as rooted in the history of slavery in the United States . Enslaved African American women were tasked with the duties of domestic workers in white American households. Their duties included preparing meals, cleaning homes, and nursing and rearing their owners' children. Out of these circumstances arose

707-401: A glorified view of antebellum Southern plantation life as a " happy slave " narrative. The marketing legend surrounding Aunt Jemima's successful commercialization of her "secret recipe" contributes to the post-Civil War nostalgia and romanticism of Southern life in service of America's developing consumer culture—especially in the context of selling kitchen items. African American women formed

808-400: A granddaughter of George and Phoeba Washington. She was employed as a cook in the home of a Quaker Oats executive and began pancake demonstrations at her employer's request. She died in 1969, and is buried near her parents and grandparents in the historic Red Oak Presbyterian Church cemetery of Ripley , Ohio. An annual Aunt Jemima breakfast has been a long-time fundraiser for the cemetery, and

909-523: A maid? If I didn't, I'd be making $ 7 a week actually being one." Some of the contemporary media portrayals of the mammy caricature have been acted out by Black men (Henson, 2013). A contemporary portrayal of the mammy caricature is seen in the film Big Momma's House directed by Raja Gosnell and starring Martin Lawrence . In the movie Martin Lawrence plays an FBI agent, Malcolm Turner, who goes undercover as "Big Momma" Hattie Mae Pierce, who exhibits

1010-406: A minstrel show featuring the "Old Aunt Jemima" song in the fall of 1889, presented by blackface performers identified by Arthur F. Marquette as "Baker & Farrell". Marquette recounts that the actor playing Aunt Jemima wore an apron and kerchief . However, Doris Witt at University of Iowa was unable to confirm Marquette's account. Witt suggests that Rutt might have witnessed a performance by

1111-399: A minstrel song called "Old Aunt Jemima". Subsequently, other companies who profited from using images of black caricatures received criticism as well. Uncle Ben's , Mrs. Butterworth's , and Cream of Wheat are some of the companies that were spotlighted. In 2021, Quaker Oats , the owners of the Aunt Jemima brand, decided to rebrand it as The Pearl Milling Company and changed its logo from

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1212-462: A portrait of an obese actress named Anna Robinson, and the Aunt Jemima package was redesigned around the new likeness. James J. Jaffee, a freelance artist from the Bronx, New York, also designed one of the images of Aunt Jemima used by Quaker Oats to market the product into the mid-20th century. Just as the formula for the mix changed several times over the years, so did the Aunt Jemima image. In 1968,

1313-468: A possible reference to a shrewd rice farmer from Houston. In 2020, Mars told Ad Age , "We don't know if a real 'Ben' ever existed." According to Mars, Uncle Ben was an African-American rice grower known for the quality of his rice. Gordon L. Harwell, an entrepreneur who had supplied rice to the armed forces in World War II , chose the name "Uncle Ben's" as a means to expand his marketing efforts to

1414-407: A post-Reconstruction fantasy of idealized domesticity, inspired by "happy slave" hospitality, and revealed a deep need to redeem the antebellum South. There were others that capitalized on this theme, such as Uncle Ben's Rice and Cream of Wheat 's Rastus. The term "Aunt Jemima" is sometimes used colloquially as a female version of the derogatory epithet " Uncle Tom " or " Rastus ". In this context,

1515-497: A range of milled products (such as wheat flour and cornmeal ) using a pearl milling process. Facing a glutted flour market, after a year of experimentation they began selling their excess flour in paper bags with the generic label "Self-Rising Pancake Flour" (later dubbed "the first ready-mix "). To distinguish their pancake mix, in late 1889 Rutt appropriated the Aunt Jemima name and image from lithographed posters seen at

1616-407: A statement saying, "The Help distorts, ignores and trivializes the experiences of Black domestic workers." When asked about her role in the movie, Viola Davis expressed her concern with playing the role because of the stereotype. However, she argued that the mammy remains a caricature because she is never humanized in the writings or portrayals. Davis' mother and grandmother also worked as maids, so she

1717-418: A whole – a global economy, unprecedented media reach and transitional racial inequality – and are class specific. Working class Black women are depicted as the  “Bad Black Mother”/”Welfare Queen” and the “Bitch” (materialistic and hyper sexual Black women within “hip-hop” culture), Middle class Black women are depicted as “Black Ladies” with allegedly un-restrainable sexual desire, and an educated Black woman

1818-457: Is a movie based on a novel by Kathryn Stockett about Black maids of white families in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s. The novel and film center around the experience of Black domestic workers, influenced by the writer and director both having Black nannies growing up. The story is positive from the perspective of the main character Skeeter, who has also been raised by a Black nanny. During

1919-497: Is a roadside restaurant called Mammy's Cupboard that was founded in 1940. The building is shaped like a mammy caricature along with a head-wrap and long red skirt. Similar to Aunt Jemima, Mammy's Cupboard uses the imagery and the stereotype of Black women to promote a business. The restaurant's use of a mammy caricature to portray Black servitude is reminiscent of how it was portrayed in the Old South. The character Beloved Belindy

2020-405: Is an injustice for me and my family. This is part of my history." Evans had previously lost a lawsuit against Quaker Oats (and others) for billions of dollars in 2015. On February 9, 2021, PepsiCo announced that the replacement brand name would be Pearl Milling Company. PepsiCo purchased that brand name for that purpose on February 1, 2021. The new branding was launched that June, one year after

2121-432: Is associated with child care. When the children have grown up and were able to take care of themselves properly, the mammy's main role is to help the mistress with household tasks. As her years of service with the family increase, the mammy's sphere of influence increases as well. She is next to the mistress in authority and has the ability to give orders to everybody in the house. The mammy is often considered to be part of

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2222-414: Is criticized by womanists such as Sojourner Truth , as she speaks about the expectations of Black women. Yet, they failed to be respected for their work. Truth’s “mammy” is a historical fact that is misinterpreted, as it is a ‘slave dialect’. It is used to underscore the work that Black women put in. As the “mammy” is interpreted to have an easier responsibility, when in reality they are still doing work that

2323-467: Is established under slavery. Among this is the criticism is the act of failing to recognize Black women when advocating for equal rights as white women do not fight for them, nor Black men. The mammy is usually portrayed as an older woman , overweight , and dark skinned . She is an idealized figure of a caregiver: amiable, loyal, maternal, non-threatening, obedient, and submissive. The mammy figure demonstrates deference to white authority. On occasion,

2424-405: Is often depicted as an “Educated Black Bitch” who is portrayed as manipulative and controlling. Black women in positions of power are often seen as the “Modern-day Mammy”, now which refers to a well-educated and successful Black woman within the upper/upper middle class who “uphold[s] white-dominated structures, institutions, or bosses at the expense of [her] personal [life].” This is a derivative of

2525-577: The George W. Bush administration . He apologized by giving away Aunt Jemima's pancake mix and syrup. Barry Presgraves, then 77-year-old Mayor of Luray, Virginia , was censured 5-to-1 by the town council because he referred to Kamala Harris as "Aunt Jemima" after she was selected by Joe Biden to be the Democratic Party vice presidential candidate . The African American Registry of the United States suggests Nancy Green and others who played

2626-515: The Jezebel stereotype , which depicts younger African-American women as conniving and promiscuous . The mammy is occasionally depicted as a religious woman. More often than not, the mammy is an asexual figure, "devoid of any personal desires that might tempt her to sin". This helps the mammy serve as both a confidante and a moral guide to her young charges, capable of keeping them in line. Kimberly Wallace-Sanders includes other characteristics of

2727-399: The "Pancake Capital of Texas", which was passed into law; the measure was spearheaded by Lillian's niece, Jewell Richard-McCalla. In 1927, Artie Belle McGinty debuted as the original radio advertisement voice for Aunt Jemima. Anna Robinson was hired to play Aunt Jemima at the 1933 Century of Progress Chicago World's Fair. Robinson answered an open audition, and her appearance was more like

2828-520: The "mammy" stereotype than the slender Lillian Richard. Born circa 1899, she was also from Kentucky and widowed (like Green), but in her 30s with 8 years of education. She was sent to New York City by Lord and Thomas to have her picture taken. A 1967 company history commemorated this journey as "the day they loaded 350 pounds of Anna Robinson on the Twentieth Century Limited." She appeared at prestigious establishments frequented by

2929-401: The "world's largest flour barrel" (24 feet high), where she operated a pancake-cooking display, sang songs, and told romanticized stories about the Old South (a happy place for blacks and whites alike). She appeared at fairs, festivals, flea markets, food shows, and local grocery stores, her arrival heralded by large billboards featuring the caption, "I'se in town, honey." Green refused to cross

3030-480: The 1950s, with cartoonish features, round eyes, and watermelon mouths. A typical magazine ad from the turn of the century created by advertising executive James Webb Young , and the illustrator N.C. Wyeth , shows a heavyset black cook talking happily while a white man takes notes. The ad copy says, "After the Civil War, after her master's death, Aunt Jemima was finally persuaded to sell her famous pancake recipe to

3131-775: The 21st century. In 1923, the United Daughters of the Confederacy proposed the erection of a mammy statue on the National Mall . The proposed statue would have been dedicated to "The Black Mammy of the South". The bill received a standing ovation in the Senate, where it passed with bipartisan consensus, but died in committee in the House following written protests from thousands of Black women. The historicity of

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3232-464: The Civil War", with their "matchless plantation flavor", to make the best pancakes in Dixie . Another story described her as diverting Union soldiers during the Civil War with her pancakes long enough for Colonel Higbee to escape. She was said to have revived a group of shipwrecked survivors with her flapjacks. Beginning in 1894, the company added an Aunt Jemima paper doll family that could be cut out from

3333-555: The Library of Congress, which may have been created as early as 1847, shows a smiling black woman named "Miss Jim-Ima Crow", with a framed image of " James Crow " on the wall behind her. A character named "Aunt Jemima" appeared on the stage in Washington, D.C., as early as 1864. Rutt's inspiration for Aunt Jemima was Billy Kersands ' American-style minstrelsy / vaudeville song " Old Aunt Jemima ", written in 1875. Rutt reportedly saw

3434-546: The United States A mammy is a U.S. historical stereotype depicting Black women, usually enslaved, who did domestic work, among nursing children. The fictionalized mammy character is often visualized as a dark-skinned woman with a motherly personality. The origin of the mammy figure stereotype is rooted in the history of slavery in the United States , as enslaved women were often tasked with domestic and childcare work in American slave-holding households. The mammy caricature

3535-482: The United States , the Aunt Jemima brand name was discontinued by its current owner, PepsiCo , with all products rebranded to Pearl Milling Company, the name of the company that produced the original pancake mix product. The Aunt Jemima name remains in use in the brand's tagline, "Same great taste as Aunt Jemima." Nancy Green portrayed the Aunt Jemima character at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and

3636-563: The Women's Columbian Association and the Women's Columbian Auxiliary Association to address the exclusion of African Americans from the 1893 World's Fair exhibitions, asking that the fair reflect the success of post-Emancipation African Americans. Instead, the Fair included a miniature West African village whose natives were portrayed as primitive savages. Ida B. Wells was incensed by the exclusion of African Americans from mainstream fair activities;

3737-446: The alias. Purcell also took up the person of Aunt Ada in a column for The Evening Sun named "Ask Aunt Ada". Black women were often the faces of these food or housekeeping columns because of the stereotypes like the mammy which associated them with servant and domestic roles. Images such as Aunt Jemima and Aunt Priscilla were mammy caricatures that created a negative and limiting representation as servant roles for white families. In

3838-419: The best speech on particular occasions and what was not. The mammy has the ability to discipline, and is able to retain respect with those she worked with, even with the children grow to adulthood. The mammy caricature has been used as advertisements for corporations, especially within the food industry. In 2020, the brand Aunt Jemima came under criticism for its branding after receiving public criticism about

3939-541: The brain and sinew of this nation". These educated progressive women saw "a mammy for the national household" represented at the World's Fair by Aunt Jemima. This directly relates to the belief that slavery cultivated innate qualities in African Americans. The notion that African Americans were natural servants reinforced a racist ideology renouncing the reality of African American intellect. Aunt Jemima embodied

4040-411: The brand's identity, including the logo. The move followed just hours after Quaker / PepsiCo changed the name and logo of its Aunt Jemima brand amid accusations of racism. As advertised on September 23, 2020, Mars Inc. replaced both the name "Uncle Ben's" along with the brand's historic logo depicting a well-dressed and bald black man in a bow tie ; rebranding itself as simply "Ben's Original", with

4141-479: The caricature of Aunt Jemima should be celebrated despite what has been widely condemned as a stereotypical and racist brand image. The registry wrote, "We celebrate the birth of Nancy Green in 1834. She was a Black storyteller and one of the first Black corporate models in the United States." Following Green's work as Aunt Jemima, very few were well-known. Advertising agencies (such as J. Walter Thompson , Lord and Thomas , and others) hired dozens of actors to portray

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4242-404: The characteristics of a mammy. She always made sure her "family", the family she worked for, was well taken care of. Helping them at any cost and putting their needs above her own can be seen in multiple episodes of the show. The NAACP, and other critics , did not like the image of African-American women the show represented, as it supported the mammy stereotype. Over time, the image of the mammy

4343-663: The church maintains a collection of Aunt Jemima memorabilia. Anna Short Harrington began her career as Aunt Jemima in 1935 and continued to play the role until 1954. She was born in 1897 in Marlboro County , South Carolina. The Short family lived on the Pegues Place plantation as sharecroppers. In 1927, she moved to Syracuse , New York. Quaker Oats discovered her cooking pancakes at the 1935 New York State Fair . Harrington died in Syracuse in 1955. Edith Wilson became

4444-537: The common enslaved "Mammy" archetype , a plump black woman wearing a headscarf who is a devoted and submissive servant. Her skin is dark and dewy, with a pearly white smile. Although depictions vary over time, they are similar to the common attire and physical features of "mammy" characters throughout American history. The term "aunt" and "uncle" in this context was a Southern form of address used with older enslaved peoples. They were denied use of English honorifics , such as "mistress" and "mister". A British image in

4545-480: The company and merged it into his Food Manufacturers, Inc. Uncle Ben's milling plant was on the Houston Ship Channel until 1999 when it moved to Greenville, Mississippi . From 1946 to 2020, Uncle Ben's products carried the image of an elderly African-American man dressed in a bow tie , which is said to have been based on a Chicago maître d'hôtel named Frank Brown with the name "Ben" being

4646-407: The company announced they would drop Aunt Jemima branding. PepsiCo referenced the Aunt Jemima brand by logotype on the front of the packaging for at least six months after the rebrand. Following that period, PepsiCo said it wouldn't be able to completely permanently abandon the Aunt Jemima brand due to trademark law ; if it does, a third party could obtain and use the brand. Aunt Jemima is based on

4747-414: The company using a mammy caricature as its logo. The character of Aunt Jemima was not a real person and was portrayed by several people, beginning with freed slave Nancy Green from 1893 to 1923, and followed by others including Anna Robinson (1923–1951), Edith Wilson (1948–1966), and Ethel Ernestine Harper (the 1950s). One of the founders of Aunt Jemima came up with the name and branding after hearing

4848-658: The early 20th century, the mammy character was common in many films. Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress with her performance as "Mammy" in Gone with the Wind in 1939. In 1940, shortly after the win, the NAACP scrutinized McDaniel's role, and criticized Hollywood for the lack of diverse Black roles and characters outside of servitude. McDaniel responded to backlash by saying, "Why should I complain about making $ 7,000 playing

4949-420: The enslaver's children. The fictional role of the mammy in plantation households grows out of the roles of enslaved African-Americans on the plantation. African-American slaves played vital roles in the plantation household. For the mammy, the majority of these duties generally are related to caring for the children of the enslaver's family, thus relieving the mistress of the house of all the drudgery work that

5050-414: The enslaver's house, but at a distance from the other cabins. Although her duties were far less tiring and strenuous, her hours were often long, leaving little time for her own leisure. Her life revolved around her duties, which did not allow an opportunity for herself to have an individual lifestyle, other than serving. There was flexibility the duties that distinguishes her from being an ordinary nurse or

5151-464: The face of Aunt Jemima became a composited creation. She was slimmed down from her previous appearance, depicting a more "svelte" look, wearing a white collar and a geometric print "headband" still resembling her previous kerchief. In 1989, marking the 100th anniversary of the brand, her image was again updated, with all head-covering removed, revealing wavy, gray-streaked hair, gold-trimmed pearl earrings, and replacing her plain white collar with lace. At

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5252-742: The face of Aunt Jemima on radio, television, and in personal appearances, from 1948 to 1966. Wilson was the first Aunt Jemima to appear in television commercials. She was born in 1896 in Louisville , Kentucky. Wilson was a classic blues singer and actress in Chicago, New York, and London. She appeared on radio in The Great Gildersleeve , on radio and television in Amos 'n' Andy , and on film in To Have and Have Not (1944). On March 31, 1981, she died in Chicago. Mammy archetype in

5353-500: The general public. In March 2007, Uncle Ben's image was "promoted" to the "chairman of the board" by a new advertising campaign. In September 2017, Mars, Inc. started to certify the sustainability of basmati rice sold under the Uncle Ben's brand to encourage local farmers to opt for the best agricultural methods. In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd , Mars, Inc. announced on June 17, 2020, that it would be "evolving"

5454-545: The hands of abusive masters. In 1981, Andy Warhol included the mammy in his Myths series, alongside other mythological and folklore characters such as Santa Claus , Mickey Mouse , and Superman . In Mammy: A Century of Race, Gender, and Southern Memory (2008), Kimberly Wallace-Sanders argued that the mammy's stereotypical attributes point to the source of her inspiration: "a long lasting and troubled marriage of racial and gender essentialism , mythology , and southern nostalgia ." The romanticized mammy image survives in

5555-613: The image of the mammy. While originating in the slavery period, the mammy figure rose to prominence during the Reconstruction Era . Scholars may argue that the Southern United States has the mammy role serve as historical revisionism . In efforts to reinterpret and legitimize the legacy of chattel slavery among racial oppression. The mammy image became especially prominent in the era of racial segregation and continues to be reproduced, as it persisted into

5656-499: The mammy caricature to an image of a traditional milling building. Aunt Priscilla's Recipes was a food and recipe column published in the Baltimore Sun during the 1930s. Aunt Priscilla was a mammy caricature who was the stereotypical good southern cook who spoke in a broken and exaggerated dialect. The alias of Aunt Priscilla was actually a white woman named Eleanor Purcell . Purcell also released several cookbooks under

5757-497: The mammy figure is questionable. Historical accounts point to the identity of most female domestic servants as teenagers and young adults , not "grandmotherly types" such as the mammy. Melissa Harris-Perry has argued that the mammy was a creation of the imagination of the white supremacy , which reimagined the powerless, coerced slave girls as soothing, comfortable, and consenting women. This contradicts other historically accurate accounts of enslaved women fearing for their lives at

5858-604: The mammy in Mammy. A Century of Race, Gender, and Southern Memory (2008): A large dark body, a round smiling face, a deeply sonorous and effortlessly soothing voice, a raucous laugh. Her personal attributes include infinite patience, self-deprecating wit, an implicit understanding and acceptance of her own inferiority, and her devotion to whites. The mammy was also large-breasted, desexualized, and potentially hostile towards Black men. Many of these characteristics were denied to African-American female slaves but were generally attributed to

5959-484: The mammy is also depicted as a sassy woman. She is devoted to her enslavers/employers and her primary goal in life is to care for their needs. In some portrayals, the mammy has a family of her own. But her caregiving duties always come first, leading to the mammy being portrayed as a neglectful parent or grandparent. And while the mammy is devoted to her white family, she often treats her own family poorly. Moreover, she has no black friends. Melissa Harris-Perry describes

6060-431: The mammy stereotype was discussed. The episode centered on an exhibition planned by the character Whitley Gilbert. In the exhibition, Gilbert included images of a "mammy". The character of Charnele Brown is upset and wants it removed from the exhibition. Gilbert and others argue that they must reclaim the image and separate it from its racist history. Later in the episode Brown reveals a childhood story in which she dressed up

6161-464: The mammy stereotype. The radio show was taken to television in the early 1950s and went on to run for three seasons. The first of season of the show starred Ethel Waters , who later left the series due to not wanting to portray the mammy stereotype any longer. McDaniel took over the role for the second season, filming a total of six episodes before becoming ill. McDaniel has been noted to have chosen to play these mammy roles time and time again as they were

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6262-475: The mammy. The dress often reflects the status of her enslaver . The mammy is usually neat and clean and wears attire that is suitable for her domestic duties. Sometimes a mammy would consider herself to be "dressed up", but typically it was an addition of a bonnet and a silk velvet mantle, which tended to belong to her enslaver. The stereotypical mammy did not have access to an education. Which lead to illiteracy, yet due to her past experiences and conflicts she

6363-451: The movie, Skeeter convinces several Black maids to share their stories and grievances, which causes an uproar. The movie came under criticism for several reasons. One in which both the novel and film were written by white people and excecuted by them. These portrayals of Black maids were derived from the limited perspectives of people who did not share the life experiences of the people being depicted. The Association of Black Historians released

6464-488: The ocean for the 1900 Paris exhibition . She was replaced by Agnes Moody. Green died in 1923 and was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery . A headstone was placed on September 5, 2020. 60-year-old Agnes Moody first performed as Aunt Jemima at the 1900 Paris exhibition , and was erroneously reported as the original Aunt Jemima. She had become well known in the Chicago area for her cornmeal bread and cakes. She died April 9, 1903. Lillian Richard

6565-407: The only accessible roles for black actress during this time. Similar to how she was given the role on the radio, McDaniel was the epitome of what a mammy looked like as well as being big in size, large mouth, and dark skin that contrasts from white teeth and big eyes. The role on television was also portrayed by Louise Beavers . Aside from the actress that portrayed her, Beulah, as a character, had all

6666-456: The original “Mammy” stereotype in which the Black woman was not only subservient but often happy to serve her white enslaver. Ben%27s Original Ben's Original , formerly called Uncle Ben's , is an American brand of parboiled rice and other related food products that were introduced by Converted Rice Inc., which is now owned by Mars, Inc. Uncle Ben's rice was first marketed in 1943 and

6767-453: The pancake box. Aunt Jemima is joined by her husband, Uncle Rastus (later renamed Uncle Mose to avoid confusion with the Cream of Wheat character, while Uncle Mose was first introduced as the plantation butler). Their children, described as "comical pickaninnies": Abraham Lincoln, Dilsie, Zeb, and Dinah. The paper doll family was posed dancing barefoot, dressed in tattered clothing, and the box

6868-514: The popular imagination of the modern United States. Psychologist Chanequa Walker-Barnes argues that political correctness has led to the mammy figure being less prevalent in the 21st-century culture, but the mammy archetype still influences the portrayal of African-American women in fiction, as good caretakers, nurturing, selfless, strong, and supportive, the supporting characters to white protagonists . She cites as examples Miranda Bailey , Mercedes Jones , and Ivy Wentz . The mammy stereotype

6969-578: The relationship between the mammy and other African Americans in Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America (2011) by summarizing that "Mammy was not a protector or defender of black children or communities. She represented a maternal ideal, but not in caring for her own children. Her love, doting, advice, correction, and supervision were reserved exclusively for white women and children." This stereotype contrasts with

7070-703: The representative of a northern milling company." However, the Davis Milling Company was not located in a northern state. Missouri in the American Civil War was a hotly contested border state . In reality, she never existed, created by marketers to better sell products. Although the Aunt Jemima character was not created until nearly 25 years after the American Civil War , the clothing, dancing, enslaved dialect, and singing old plantation songs as she worked, all harkened back to

7171-539: The rich and famous, such as El Morocco , the Stork Club , " 21 ", and the Waldorf-Astoria . Photos show Robinson making pancakes for celebrities and stars of Broadway , radio, and motion pictures. They were used in advertising "ranked among the highest read of their time". The Aunt Jemima packaging was redesigned in her likeness. Robinson reportedly worked for the company until her death in 1951, although

7272-493: The role, often assigned regionally, as the first organized sales promotion campaign. Quaker Oats ended local appearances for Aunt Jemima in 1965. Nancy Green was the first spokesperson hired by the R. T. Davis Milling Company for the Aunt Jemima pancake mix. Green was born into slavery in Montgomery County , Kentucky. Dressed as Aunt Jemima, Green appeared at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, beside

7373-439: The same relationships that the mammy has with the enslaver. There are oftentimes when a mammy is forced to leave her own children behind in order to care for the owner's children. In many cases mammies choose to even have their own children taken away because they need to be able to fully provide nutrition to their enslaver's children. There was a fear that if they were feeding their own children there would be not be enough milk for

7474-450: The same. These contemporary mammies continued to be quick-witted and remained highly opinionated. A new twist in the outlook of the contemporary mammy occurred in the sitcom The Jeffersons , where Florence, a maid played by Marla Gibbs , works for an affluent African-American family. A Different World was a 1980s sitcom that featured students at Hillman, a fictional historically black college . In an episode titled "Mammy Dearest",

7575-496: The slang term "Aunt Jemima" falls within the " mammy archetype " and refers to a friendly black woman who is perceived as obsequiously servile or acting in, or protective of, the interests of whites . John Sylvester of WTDY-AM drew criticism after calling Condoleezza Rice an "Aunt Jemima" and Colin Powell an "Uncle Tom", referring to remarks by singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte about their alleged subservience in

7676-435: The slaveholding family as much as its blood members were considered. Although she is considered of a lower status, she is still included in the inner circle. She has often been referred to as a "unique type of foster motherhood". Aside from just tending to the needs of the children, the mammy is also responsible for teaching the proper etiquette to them, such as addressing the elders on the plantation as "aunt" or "uncle". Among

7777-529: The slogan first used at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois: "I's in Town, Honey". At that World's Fair, and for decades afterward, marketers created and circulated fictional stories about Aunt Jemima. She was presented as a "loyal cook" for a fictional Colonel Higbee's Louisiana plantation on the Mississippi River . Jemima was said to use a secret recipe "from the South before

7878-455: The so-called "Negro Day" was a picnic held off-site from the fairgrounds. Black scholars Hallie Quinn Brown , Anna Julia Cooper , and Fannie Barrier Williams used the World's Fair as an opportunity to address how African American women were being exploited by white men. In her book A Voice from the South (1892), Cooper had noted the fascination with "Southern influence, Southern ideas, and Southern ideals" had "dictated to and domineered over

7979-397: The stereotypical mannerisms and appearance of a mammy caricature. The character of Big Momma is a plus-size older Black matriarch and homemaker with overtly religious beliefs and a nurturing demeanor. Another mammy stereotype that the movie displays is the one of midwifery and domestic work. This originates from the history of older Black women serving as midwives on plantations. The Help

8080-399: The time, the revised image was described as a move towards a more "sophisticated" depiction, with Quaker marketing the change as giving her "a more contemporary look" which remained on the products until early 2021. On June 17, 2020, Quaker Oats announced that the Aunt Jemima brand would be discontinued and replaced with a new name and image "to make progress toward racial equality". The image

8181-423: The vaudeville performer Pete F. Baker, who played characters described in newspapers of that era as "Ludwig" and "Aunt Jemima". His portrayal of the Aunt Jemima character may have been a white male in blackface, pretending to be a German immigrant, imitating a black minstrel parodying an imaginary black female enslaved cook. Marketing materials for the line of products centered around the "Mammy" archetype, including

8282-542: The whole grain, then steaming , and finally, vacuum drying and removal of the husk . This increased the rice's nutritional value, reduced cooking time, and made it resistant to weevils . In 1932, Forrest Mars Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a remit to expand the Mars food company internationally. While in the United Kingdom, Mars learned of Erich Huzenlaub's work with rice. Huzenlaub's London-based company

8383-453: The work was sporadic and for mere weeks in a year. Nevertheless, this was not enough to escape the hard life into which she was born. Her $ 1,200 total payment in 1939 (equivalent to $ 26,285 in 2023) was almost the entirety of the household's annual income. The official Aunt Jemima history timeline once stated she was "able to make enough money to provide for her children and buy a 22-room house where she rents rooms to boarders". The same claim

8484-557: Was Rice Conversion Ltd. The two eventually formed Mars and Huzenlaub in Houston, Texas, which gave Forrest Mars partial ownership of the Huzenlaub Process rice conversion patent. In 1942, through Mars's guidance and sponsorship, Huzenlaub created, together with Houston food broker Gordon L. Harwell, the company Converted Rice, Inc., which sold its entire output to the U.S. and British armed forces. The advantage of this product

8585-456: Was able to develop literacy in levels. In particular, a mammy of an aristocratic family can be identified by her air of refinement. When the mammy did not stay in the house of the enslavers or was not busy attending the needs of their children, she would live separately. She lived with her husband and children in a cabin that is distinguished from the cabins of other enslaved individuals, in either size or structure. The cabin would be place near

8686-434: Was also protected against infringement by an unrelated seller of a different but related product—pancake syrup. Aunt Jemima became one of the longest continually running logos and trademarks in the history of American advertising. The earliest advertising was based upon a vaudeville parody, and it remained a caricature for many years. Quaker Oats commissioned Haddon Sundblom , a nationally known commercial artist, to paint

8787-527: Was designed by Raggedy Ann creator Johnny Gruelle . This character was sold as a doll and featured in books. Televisions did not become common in US household until around the mid to late 1940s, making radio shows popular forms of entertainment for the American family. In 1939, Beulah Brown debuted as a character on the radio show Homeward Unincorporated. Beulah , as a character, was highly stereotypical and

8888-400: Was familiar with the experience and lives of Black women within domestic work. Davis also challenged filmmakers to explore the lives of these women outside of the kitchen and to not limit their identity to that of maids. Mammy imagery can be found in the form of several objects including dolls, ceramics, cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, and other household items. The mammy caricature

8989-444: Was given a contemporary makeover. Some of the more contemporary features that the mammy received were that her head rag was removed and she became smaller, as well as lighter in complexion. In addition, her owner was not always white. Some contemporary television sitcoms which featured mammies include Maude , where the character Florida, played by Esther Rolle , worked as a domestic for a white family. A spin-off titled Good Times

9090-549: Was hired to portray Aunt Jemima in 1925, and remained in the role for 23 years. Richard was born in 1891, and grew up in the tiny community of Fouke 7 miles west of Hawkins in Wood County , Texas. In 1910, she moved to Dallas , working initially as a cook. Her job "pitching pancakes" was based in Paris , Texas. After she suffered a stroke circa 1947–1948, she returned to Fouke, where she lived until her death in 1956. Richard

9191-420: Was honored with a Texas Historical Marker in her hometown, dedicated in her name on June 30, 2012. Hawkins , Texas, east of Mineola , is known as the "Pancake Capital of Texas" because of longtime resident Lillian Richard. The local chamber of commerce decided to use Hawkins' connection to Aunt Jemima to boost tourism. In 1995, State Senator David Cain introduced Senate Resolution No. 73 designating Hawkins as

9292-810: Was labeled "Before the Receipt was sold". ( Receipt is an archaic rural form of recipe.) Buying another box with elegant clothing cut-outs to fit over the dolls, the customer could transform them "After the Receipt was sold". This placed them in the Horatio Alger rags-to-riches American cultural mythos. Rag doll versions were offered as a premium in 1909: "Aunt Jemima Pancake Flour / Pica ninny Doll / The Davis Milling Company". Early versions were portrayed as poor people with patches on their trousers, large mouths, and missing teeth. The children's names were changed to Diana and Wade. Over time, there were improvements in appearance. Oil-cloth versions were available circa

9393-559: Was made for Anna Short Harrington . According to the 1940 census, she rented an apartment in a four-flat in Washington Park with her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. Rosa Washington Riles became the third face on Aunt Jemima packaging in the 1930s, and continued until 1948. Rosa Washington was born in 1901 near Red Oak in Brown County , Ohio, one of several children of Robert and Julie (Holliday) Washington and

9494-493: Was made, where Rolle's character became the center of the series; the show focused on her family, which lived generally happy lives in a low-income housing project. Other television series that featured mammies as characters include That's My Mama , Gimme a Break! and What's Happening!! . When other contemporary mammies emerged, they usually retained their occupation as domestic workers and exhibited these physical feature changes; however, their emotional qualities remained

9595-462: Was one of the first Black corporate models in the United States. Subsequent advertising agencies hired dozens of actresses to perform the role as the first organized sales promotion campaign. In 1888, St. Joseph Gazette editor Chris L. Rutt and his friend Charles G. Underwood bought a small flour mill at 214 North 2nd St. in St. Joseph, Missouri . Rutt and Underwood's "Pearl Milling Company" produced

9696-590: Was part of post Civil War propaganda that spread negative and false stereotypes about African Americans. These mammy ceramics and dolls had similar effects as the false representations created by minstrel shows. These figurines often had exaggerated features and tried to falsely portray African Americans as "docile, dumb and animated". Despite their racist meaning, these items have been passed down and seen as memorabilia. Although these mammy dolls and ceramics dehumanize Black people, some of them are still valued and sold for hundreds of dollars. In Natchez, Mississippi, there

9797-555: Was removed from packaging in fall 2020, while the name change was said to be planned for a later date. Within one day of the June 2020 announcement, other similarly motivated rebrandings and reviews of brand marketing were also announced, including for Uncle Ben's rice (which was renamed Ben's Original ), the Mrs. Butterworth's pancake syrup brand and bottle shape, and the " Rastus " Black chef logo used by Cream of Wheat . Days earlier, American satirical news outlet The Onion published

9898-516: Was that it could be air-dropped to troops in the field without the risk of weevil infestation, and it could be cooked more quickly than other rice products. Additionally, the converted rice product would retain more nutritional value. In 1944, with additional financing from the Defense Plant Corporation and an investment by Forrest Mars, it built a second large plant. In 1959, Forrest Mars purchased Erich Huzenlaub's interest in

9999-503: Was the quintessential mammy figure auditorily. The character was originally played by white actor Marlin Hurt . The character was well taken to and added to several other radio shows. Over time, the creators and producers of these shows wanted to have an actual Black woman as the voice of the character. Hattie McDaniel was given the role on the radio version in 1947, as she was famous for her multiple other award-winning performances portraying

10100-590: Was the top-selling rice in the United States until the 1990s. In 2020, it was rebranded as "Ben's Original" in the US. In the 1910s, the German-British chemist Erich Huzenlaub (1888–1964) and the British chemist Francis Heron Rogers invented a form of parboiling designed to retain more of the nutrients in rice, now known as the Huzenlaub Process . The process entailed vacuum drying

10201-498: Was used to create a narrative of Black women being content within the institution of slavery among domestic servitude. The mammy stereotype associates Black women with domestic roles, and it has been argued that it, alongside segregation and discrimination, limited job opportunities for Black women during the Jim Crow era (1877 to 1966). The mammy caricature was first seen in the 1830s in the Antebellum pro-slavery literature, as

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