Quaker Oats has announced the retirement of the “Aunt Jemima” brand, known for its logo featuring a formerly enslaved black woman named Nancy Green. However, just a day after this announcement, Larnell Evans Sr., a Marine Corps veteran and great-grandson of “Aunt Jemima,” voiced his strong protest. He believes the move erases black history and suffering, stating, “This is an injustice for me and my family. This is part of my history.” He accuses the company of trying to erase slavery after profiting from it for years.
The brand’s history dates back to 1893 when Nancy Green served pancakes at the Chicago World’s Fair. After her death in 1923, Anna Short Harrington, who Evans claims as his great-grandmother, took on the role in 1935. Evans emphasizes that she worked for Quaker Oats for 20 years, traveling across the U.S. and Canada as Aunt Jemima, all after slavery had ended. He passionately states, “How do you think I feel as a black man telling you about my family history they’re trying to erase?”
