Ursula: Maybe 2020 is our chance to reset and make meaningful changes
Jun 19, 2020, 3:11 PM | Updated: 3:11 pm
People draw messages with chalk in an intersection that saw clashes between police and protesters just days before in the so-called "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" on June 10, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)
For many people, getting rid of Aunt Jemima was apparently the last straw. As I’ve scrolled through my Facebook feed this week, I’ve seen numerous posts about the company’s decision to stop using her image on boxes of pancake mix and syrup bottles.
“Black people should be proud of Aunt Jemima!” “Our world has gone crazy.” “This cancel culture needs to stop ASAP!” “Triggered!” “I’m tired of certain races trying to make me feel guilty for being white.”
These are just some direct quotes from posts this week. In some cases, a Facebook friend would include an article about how the woman behind Aunt Jemima, Nancy Green, died as one of America’s first black millionaires. (It’s not true.)
Others would mock the decision by asking, “What brand is next, the Keebler Elves?”
I’m not writing this to shame anyone. If you have a different viewpoint, my goal is always to understand where you’re coming from. But I have to admit it’s really disappointing that even with the ugly truths that have become so glaring during this pandemic, and after George Floyd’s death, there are still some people who refuse to open their minds about racial injustice and inequality.
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If you’re incensed that your bottle of Aunt Jemima will be replaced with another name and image, is it really because this change is going to affect your life in some way? The companies re-branding their products are admitting the origins of their icons are based on racial stereotypes. They’re finally getting it!
For hundreds of years, black Americans have been made to feel “less than” purely based on the color of their skin. If you feel guilty because you’re white, imagine how they’ve felt for generations.
Instead of expending all your energy trying to confirm your old beliefs, use your time to listen and learn something new so that you can be part of the solution. We all need to re-evaluate our thinking patterns. It’s not enough for us to say, “we’re not racist.” We have to be anti-racist.
I’m a person of color and I’m also trying to learn from my past mistakes. As bad as 2020 has been, maybe this is our chance to do a giant reset and finally make meaningful changes so that America is great FOR EVERYONE. Not seizing on this opportunity would be a shame.
Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
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