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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

upset that local tesco has started selling Aunt Jemima

158 replies

pettywitchinlondon · 28/05/2015 18:34

Yes I know I don't have to buy and nore does anyone else but its a brand with such a racist past about bringing the taste from the plantation home with you and now that slavery is outlawed you can't have a black slave cook so buy this instead. I do think such toxic brands should be killed off.

OP posts:
WhetherOrNot · 28/05/2015 18:38

www.auntjemima.com/aj_history/

Black people are allowed to have products, you know. Where is the racist past? Where is bringing the plantation home? Where is the slavery?

TwinkieTwinkle · 28/05/2015 18:39

Erm... What?

spottybottycream · 28/05/2015 18:39

Iv never heard of it, what is it? Lots of current brands had racist advertising back in the day. Pearl soap I think for one? Or some such other soap brand. Is Aunt Jemimas current add campaign "a taste of the plantations?"

Smarterthantheaveragebeaver · 28/05/2015 18:40

Never heard of her. Is she married to Uncle Ben?

NerrSnerr · 28/05/2015 18:41

Can you give a bit more information about the slavery/ bringing the plantation home history?

TwinkieTwinkle · 28/05/2015 18:42

Yes, that's what I'm wondering. I'd be willing to bet that a lot of companies that have been around for a long time had advertising campaigns that were questionable at some point. What is your actual problem with this company?

Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:43

I see what you mean. Hmm. Not sure what I think. Better than that awful Robinson creation. Was the slogan about the plantation?

YsabellStoHelit · 28/05/2015 18:43

So it is "racist" to buy a product that's been around for 120 years because it's logo is a black woman? Is that what you are saying?

Hmm
Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:44

I assume Aunt Jemima is a stereotypical mammee creation. Is that what's going on?

spottybottycream · 28/05/2015 18:45

I don't see the problem? Why cant they use a black model to advertise their product? Where's the plantation reference?

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 28/05/2015 18:47

OK yes they obviously don't brand it like that these days.

Im just upset as she is really a reference of american slavery and many people in the uk will know nothing about this. I can't think of any other brands that are as bad.

fortune.com/2014/08/12/aunt-jemima-racism/

OP posts:
Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:47

I think she is probably based on a sort of black maid figure a la The Help or Mammy from Gone with the Wind not Naomi Campbell.

Stopandlook · 28/05/2015 18:47

We have some in the cupboard, kids love 'her' hotcakes. I can't see anything controversial on the packet?

spottybottycream · 28/05/2015 18:48

Just googled it and I still don't see anything racist?

Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:48

Like selling sweets using children dressed as Victorian chimney sweeps.

Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:49

I get it.

Original poster
pettywitchinlondon · 28/05/2015 18:49

The point is the Robinson stuff disappeared a few decades ago. This stuff is now appearing In uk supermarkets.

That's exactly it stitch.

OP posts:
eyebags63 · 28/05/2015 18:50

I was totally ready to say YABU and ridiculous...................... but the cartoon logo really makes me cringe; definitely something distasteful about it.

It is possible to have 'black' products without the mammy caricature.

ugh

WhetherOrNot · 28/05/2015 18:52

They hired Anna Robinson, described as a large, gregarious woman with the face of an angel. She traveled the country promoting Aunt Jemima until her death in 1951.

Well, SHE obviously didn't think it was racist, did she?

TwinkieTwinkle · 28/05/2015 18:55

Googled it with 'racist' after it and got a lot of results. I fail to see the issue though. It was marketed badly and when the civil rights movement became strong it seems to have changed it's marketing and steered clear of anything racist. Like a lot of companies at that time. What is the issue in 2015?

Ipigglemustdie · 28/05/2015 18:55

Well I suppose if you really want to be offended by it you could be. I'm partial to uncle Ben on occasion is he ok?? Confused

Stitchintime1 · 28/05/2015 18:56

She might have thought - like Lena Horne (?) that it was better to play a maid than to be one.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 28/05/2015 18:56

I agree, OP, it's cringe-worthy and racist.

Can't tell if whether is joking or not. Confused

Alisvolatpropiis · 28/05/2015 18:56

I think the brand has run into problems in America in recent years and the name Jemima is pretty uncommon there for similar reasons.

I only know this because I used to frequent an American baby names board and it would crop up from time to time, usually when a British poster asked for opinions on the name Jemima.

Are you American, op?.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 28/05/2015 18:58

I think the issue is, it's not just that a brand called 'Aunt Jemima' used to have slightly dodgy ad campaigns that are now in the past.

It's more like calling something 'Gollywog Curry' and wondering why people are offended - the brand's link with a racist narrative is really strong.