Aunt Jemima is in a sticky situation. Descendants of two women who modeled as Aunt Jemima are demanding $2 billion plus a share of future revenue in a lawsuit against Quaker Oats [1], maker of the syrups and pancake mixes since 1926. The two great-grandsons of Anna Short Harrington claim that their grandmother and another woman, Nancy Green, were key players in formulating the first self-rising pancake mix and that the company promised yet never paid the women a percentage of royalties each time their "name, voice or likeness was used in connection with the products or goods."
Quaker Oats argues that Aunt Jemima isn't based on a real person. "The image symbolizes a sense of caring, warmth, hospitality and comfort and is neither based on, nor meant to depict any one person," the brand said in a statement [2]. This might be a case of he said, she said, but this lawsuit should clear up the origins behind Aunt Jemima. Until we figure it out, will you still buy the brand of products?