By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph will retain its connection to the pancake mix and syrup formerly known by the Aunt Jemima brand.
PepsiCo has announced the debut of the Pearl Milling Company brand, a nod to the St. Joseph company that developed the self-rising flour which became “Aunt Jemima Pancake Flour.” Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph.
The Aunt Jemima brand came under fire as playing on racial stereotypes. It first featured the image of Nancy Green, a former slave who portrayed Aunt Jemima and served pancakes to an ever-growing crowd during the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The Quaker Oats Company purchased the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and though it updated the image over the years, it couldn’t shake the criticism.
PepsiCo announced in June of last year it would quit using the Aunt Jemima name and likeness and pledged a $5 million dollar commitment to the black community.