Aunt Jemima

[ ant juh-mahy-muh, ahnt ]

noun

1. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a Black woman considered by other Black people to be subservient to or to curry favor with white people.

Sensitive Note

The trademarked name and image of Aunt Jemima, as formerly used by the Quaker Oats Company on some of its products, was also the name of a stereotypical African American character in minstrel shows of the late 19th century. The product packaging, originally featuring a fat, smiling Black woman with a kerchief in her hair, was updated over the years to eliminate features associated with disrespectful racial stereotypes. Then, in 2021, the company replaced both the image and product name in a clean break from its controversial brand origin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Aunt Jemima¹

First recorded in 1885–90; after the trademarked name of a brand of pancake mixes and associated products, featuring a picture of a Black female cook on the packaging

Example Sentences

Butler said some fellow senators seemed surprised as they admired how articulate she was, and recounted hearing “blatant Aunt Jemima” jokes.

From Los Angeles Times

Created in the aftermath of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 assassination, Saar’s doll turned the caricature of Black women as domestic servants on its head; arming her with a rifle and a hand grenade, Saar makes Aunt Jemima into a heroine, a protector, a self-emancipating revolutionary.

From New York Times

“Aunt Jemima conveys the same negative connotation as Uncle Tom, simply because of her looks,” she told The New York Times in a 1990 interview.

From Seattle Times

There is a long, painful history of using racial minorities in problematic trademarks, such as Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben’s, Land O’Lakes, and Eskimo Pie.

From Slate

"Aunt Jemima was on cereal boxes too," Cybil responded, "and no one's buying her anymore."

From Salon