The great-grandson of the original Aunt Jemima, Larnell Evans Sr., has expressed his deep frustration over the rebranding decision by Quaker Foods. He believes that the move erases an important part of his family’s and his heritage.
As we’ve learned, Quaker Foods decided to rebrand after coming under pressure to “cancel” Aunt Jemima. The true Aunt Jemima, Anna Short Harrington, is now being represented by her great-grandson, who feels outraged and disappointed by this erasure of her legacy.
The “Aunt Jemima” Anna Short Harrington’s Great-Grandson Speaks Out
“This is unfair to my family and me. My history includes this, sir,” Larnell Evans Sr. said. “The racism they allege comes from the other side, from white people, as seen by their use of pictures from enslavement.”
“This business makes money off depictions of our slavery. They’ve decided to do this by erasing the past of my great-grandmother, a black woman. It hurts.”
Nancy Green, a former slave, debuted as the first “Aunt Jemima” in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair. She worked in the South Side of Chicago, serving pancakes to fairgoers while dressed in an apron and headscarf.
Green’s portrayal continued until her passing in 1923. Evans explains that his grandmother, Anna Short Harrington, took over after Green’s death.
Uses for Quaker Foods Likeness of Anna Short Harrington
Harrington worked as a chef at Syracuse University. Her pancakes were highly praised by members of fraternities there. In 1935, she distributed homemade pancakes at the New York State Fair, where a Quaker Foods employee discovered her.
Harrington was quickly hired by Quaker Foods, and her image was used in advertisements and on various products. She traveled across the country, serving pancakes while dressed as “Aunt Jemima,” becoming a household name.
Harrington spent 20 years working for Quaker Oats. She made pancakes for people all over the United States and Canada as Aunt Jemima, Evans noted.
“It was after slavery, and this woman served all those people as Aunt Jemima. That was her life. How do you think I feel about sitting here telling you about my family’s history, which they are trying to erase, as a black man?”
Evans, a 66-year-old disabled U.S. Marine veteran, mentioned that Quaker Foods also used Harrington’s pancake recipe. In 2014, her heirs tried to sue the company for $3 billion for unpaid royalties but were unsuccessful.
“They’re just going to erase history as if it never happened after making all that money—and now that backers are demanding restitution for slavery?” Evans continued. “They won’t offer us anything, right? What grants them this authority?”
However, Quaker Foods has stated that by the end of the year, all products will no longer feature Aunt Jemima branding or artwork.
