She’s Still Here

Last year’s ruckus about product names with actual, or presumed, racist roots led some companies to retire (e.g., disavow) established, and even iconic, brands. I had thought Aunt Jemima was one of them—and apparently she some day soon will become the dry, impersonal Pearl Milling Company. I would think that clearing store shelves of the old would be easy given consumer hoarding and food supply-chain disruptions resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2)/COVID-19 pandemic. I guess not.

On March 25, 2021, while searching supermarket shelves for a jar of lime juice—at my wife’s request—I unexpectedly came across 2.26 kg (5-pound) bags of Aunt Jemima Yellow Corn Meal. Hence the Featured Image, captured using iPhone XS; composed as shot and unaltered. Vitals: f/1.8, ISO 50, 1/63 sec, 26mm (film equivalent); 9:27 a.m. PDT. You won’t see her smiling face along store aisles for much longer.