| Aunt Jemima | |
|---|---|
 ' | |
|
Real Name |
Jemima |
|
First Appearance |
"Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix” boxes (1889) |
|
Original Publisher |
Pearl Milling Company |
|
Created by |
Chris L. Rutt |
Origin[]
Aunt Jemima is an African American woman introduced in 1889, derived from the "mammy" archetype popularized in minstrel shows. She is depicted as cheerful, devoted, and a maternal figure dressed in a headscarf and apron, portraying a housemaid or cook, and was associated with the brand's pancake mix and syrup products.
Over the years, the character underwent various redesigns to be less offensive and more contemporary. In 2020, in response to growing awareness of racial stereotypes, the brand decided to retire the Aunt Jemima mascot and rename the product line Pearl Milling Company.
Notes[]
- While the character of Aunt Jemima is retired, the name is still trademarked by the current owner PepsiCo so the character’s name can only be used within the interior of a story, not to promote a brand.