In the Media: Rita Roberts Discusses Racist Corporate Symbols in USA Today

In USA Today, Rita Roberts, Nathaniel Wright Stephenson Chair in History and Biography Chair and Professor of History and Africana Studies, discussed how Aunt Jemima and other racist corporate symbols have reinforced white supremacy beyond the breakfast table. Roberts explained that these brands have not only perpetuated the stereotype of the “happy mammy,” but also furthered the racial divide between white and non-white workers, who might otherwise come together to advocate for better working conditions. “The notion of maintaining control of labor is absolutely essential for understanding the perpetuation of white supremacy,” she said.

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