15337: BHM 2021—ASALH.

 

It’s too late to catch the Marquee Black History Month Event from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History—but the 106th Annual Meeting and Virtual Conference is scheduled for September 13-30, 2021.

15336: BHM 2021—Coca-Cola (Cont’d).

 

Looks like Coke created an original 2021 BHM advertisement after all. Oh, and there’s a Black History Month scholarships sweepstakes receiving minimal promotion too—better hurry, the entry period ends tomorrow.

 

15335: BHM 2021—Outfront Media.

 

Outfront Media salutes Black History Month with a well-intentioned—albeit not well-executed—campaign featuring Black executives. The torn edges are likely supposed to add urban hipness; however, it looks like the postings have been defaced.

 

15333: BHM 2021—Northeastern Illinois University.

For Black History Month, Northeastern Illinois University offers a full curriculum of activities.

15331: BHM 2021—Movéo.

Demand generation agency Movéo celebrates Black History Month by saluting iconic Black advertising figures. Somebody should demand that the White agency hire some Black advertising figures.

15329: BHM 2021—Target.

Target is Black Beyond Measure by backing Black-owned businesses.

15327: BHM 2021—Bloomingdale’s.

 

For Black History Month, Bloomingdale’s displays an off-the-rack diversity donation drive.

 

15326: BHM 2021—USPS.

 

The U.S. Postal Service issued the 44th Black Heritage Stamp, celebrating August Wilson. Given the service delays, use the stamp and expect your letter to be delivered by August…

15325: BHM 2021—Macy’s.

 

Macy’s says: Black history. Black brilliance. Desperately seeking to stay in the black.

15323: BHM 2021—UBS.

 

Not sure this UBS advertisement is a BHM promotion. Not sure what UBS is trying to communicate. Pretty sure it’s BS.

15321: BHM 2021—Ford Motor Company.

 

Ford Motor Company is hauling a full load of BHM events and activities.

15320: BHM 2021—JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

Okay, this might not be a BHM initiative, but Advancing Black Pathways features a lot of the characteristics of such promotions—including celebrity spokespeople of color.

15317: BHM 2021—Oriental Trading.

 

Here’s an extraordinarily diverse BHM celebration—White kids will love Black History Month Posters from Oriental Trading.

15316: BHM 2021—Coca-Cola.

At Coca-Cola.com, the soft drink maker is celebrating Black History Month 2021 with a video that appears to be a rerun of Black History Month 2020.

15315: BHM 2021—Aunt Jemima Adieu.

Per the PepsiCo pronouncement, Aunt Jemima is being erased—during Black History Month. Meanwhile, the jury is still out on Mrs. Butterworth’s.

 

15314: BHM 2021—The Black Family.

The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity serves as the official theme of BHM 2021. Learn more here.

15313: BHM 2021—Peloton Apparel.

 

Peloton Apparel celebrates Black History Month with a special collection of gear and accessories. What? No BHM Bikes or Treads…?

15312: BHM 2021—PepsiCo, Quaker Oats And Aunt Jemima.

 

A PepsiCo press release announced the official end of Aunt Jemima—during Black History Month to boot. The statement also claimed:

 

“Throughout the effort that led to the new Pearl Milling Company name, Quaker worked with consumers, employees, external cultural and subject-matter experts, and diverse agency partners to gather broad perspectives and ensure the new brand was developed with inclusivity in mind.”

 

Of course they did. What’s more, PepsiCo and the new brand will offer generous reparations donations to causes benefiting Black girls and women. Of course they will.

 

The statement also professed:

 

“The Quaker Oats Company signed the contract to purchase the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925. It updated its image over the years in a manner intended to remove racial stereotypes that dated back to the brand origins.”

 

Racial stereotypes? An original Aunt Jemima menus and recipes booklet (depicted below) presented the iconic character as a “mammy cook” working on the plantation of her master, Colonel Higbee. Aunt Jemima was not merely a racial stereotype; rather, she was a racist stereotype.

 

PepsiCo and Quaker Oats aren’t just revising a label—the companies are creating revisionist history. What’s next? A Black History Month Pancake Breakfast?

 

 

 

Aunt Jemima Rebrands As Pearl Milling Company

 

PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PepsiCo, Inc., today announced the debut of Pearl Milling Company, the new name of the pancake mix and syrup varieties previously found under the Aunt Jemima brand.

 

Pearl Milling Company-branded pancake mixes, syrups, cornmeal, flour, and grits products will start to arrive in market in June 2021. Pearl Milling Company will offer people all their favorite pancake mix and syrup varieties in the same familiar red packaging previously found under the Aunt Jemima brand. Products will continue to be available under the Aunt Jemima name without the character image until June.

 

Though new to store shelves, Pearl Milling Company was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and was the originator of the iconic self-rising pancake mix that would later become known as Aunt Jemima.

 

The Quaker Oats Company signed the contract to purchase the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925. It updated its image over the years in a manner intended to remove racial stereotypes that dated back to the brand origins. In June 2020, the company announced it was transitioning from the Aunt Jemima name and likeness on packaging and pledged a $5 million commitment to support the Black community.

 

Throughout the effort that led to the new Pearl Milling Company name, Quaker worked with consumers, employees, external cultural and subject-matter experts, and diverse agency partners to gather broad perspectives and ensure the new brand was developed with inclusivity in mind.

 

In the coming weeks, Pearl Milling Company will also announce the details of a $1 million commitment to empower and uplift Black girls and women, inviting the community to visit its website and nominate non-profit organizations for an opportunity to receive grants to further that mission. This is in addition to PepsiCo’s more than $400 million, five-year investment to uplift Black business and communities, and increase Black representation at PepsiCo.

 

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $67 billion in net revenue in 2019, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of the business. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

15311: BHM 2021—Gold Series From Pantene.

Procter & Gamble is creatively lazy during Black History Month. Its Olay advertisement salutes Black women who rose in STEM careers, while the Gold Series from Pantene advertisement spotlights Black scientists, stylists and dermatologists.

15309: BHM 2021—Abercrombie & Fitch.

 

Abercrombie & Fitch declares:

 

We’re proud to introduce a capsule designed by A&F BIPOC associates that speaks to racial justice in their own words—a collection that calls for CHANGE, EQUALITY & UNITY not just for today, but every day.

 

Okey-doke.