Latest news with #AuntJemima
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Race in Trump's America: One step forward and two steps back
On the afternoon of 25 May 2020, George Floyd was choked to death on a Minneapolis street by a police officer. The brutal act, captured on video by a teenager, sparked a wave of multiracial protests for social justice and police reform. It also became a flashpoint in US politics and culture, ushering in a brief and backlash-ready period that galvanized millions to push for racial progress. Caucasians began to have rare and overdue conversations about the status of African-Americans. Companies complied with the new zeitgeist and dropped racially stereotypical brand names like Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, made bandages for other complexions and expanded diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. California formed a task force to study reparations. Buildings, schools and roads were renamed. Statues came down. Also Read: Trump's trade agenda: About US jobs or global supremacy? This was peak 'woke,' an old term that gained widespread usage around the protests. Five years later, 72% of Americans say the period of 'racial reckoning' didn't lead to changes that improved the lives of African-Americans, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Not only that, framing America's intractable social problems around race is increasingly politically risky. President Donald Trump is back in office—and now lecturing the leader of South Africa about reverse apartheid and 'White genocide.' Some conservatives are calling on him to pardon Derek Chauvin, sentenced to 21 years in prison for violating Floyd's civil rights. Many DEI initiatives have been renamed or eliminated and polls show a drop in support for diversity initiatives, especially among Republican voters. The nation's only African-American governor, Maryland's Wes Moore, just vetoed a bill to study reparations. The 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) movement has stalled, as has the police reform sought by activists. Perhaps nothing captures this more than DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's decision to dismantle Black Lives Matter Plaza, a site that had been a locus for activists and something of a rebuke to Trump in his first term. Also Read: DEI defence: How to promote diversity and prevent a backlash During the height of the protests, 67% of US adults expressed support for BLM, according to the Pew Research Center, including 60% of Caucasian Americans and 86% of African-Americans. Now that figure stands at 52%, with 45% of Caucasians and 76% of African-Americans expressing support for BLM. The numbers underscore the political fault lines around race and the remedies to address racial inequality. They also show a concerted and successful effort by conservatives to malign the activists and the aims associated with the movement—in part using weapons handed to them in the form of unpopular slogans ('defund the police") and a handful of unruly protests like those in Portland, Oregon. In the BLM era, some Caucasian voters, particularly college-educated ones, shifted to the left on a broad array of social issues, helping the Democratic ticket in 2020. Now, the post-BLM or post-woke era sees Republicans with an advantage, helping Trump win a second term by suggesting activists went too far, even as it's hard for most Americans to point to any lasting good that came out of the 2020 movement for racial progress. Some 87% of US adults say the relationship between African-American people and police officers is either about the same or worse in the five years since Floyd's death. Only 11% say that relationship has gotten better. The most striking dip is among Democrats, who in September 2020 had high hopes for African-American progress, with 70% expecting changes a result of the protests. Now, five years later, that figure is 34% according to Pew. The Justice Department last Wednesday dropped consent decrees with Minneapolis and Louisville, rolling back federal oversight of several police departments and shifting the focus away from racial discrimination. Also Read: Caution: Attacks on DEI in the US threaten to cement glass ceilings The BLM protests were among the biggest and most multiracial the country has ever seen. Powered by covid lockdowns and pent-up frustration over several instances of violence against African-American people, sometimes caught on camera, the demonstrations seemed to augur in something more permanent. Yet, concerted efforts by conservatives to demonize protestors and suggest the goals of the activists amounted to reverse racism or blanket attacks on the police worked, with Trump returning to office in 2025 and advancing Caucasian identity politics. In the wake of Trump's re-election, some African-Americans, who have been at the forefront of fights for a more equal America, have decided to march no more, instead leaving the fight to others. The lack of engagement has consequences for Democrats particularly, but more broadly for the cause of racial equality, which remains a worthy goal. ©Bloomberg The author is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion.
Bloomberg
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
The Racial Reckoning That Wasn't
On the afternoon of May 25, 2020, George Floyd was choked to death on a Minneapolis street by a police officer. That brutal act, captured on video by a teenager on a trip to the corner store, sparked a wave of multiracial protests for social justice and police reform. It also became a flashpoint in US politics and culture, ushering in a brief and backlash-ready period that galvanized millions to push for racial progress. White people began to have rare and overdue conversations about the status of Black Americans. Companies complied with the new zeitgeist and dropped Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben as brand names, made bandages for Black and brown skin and expanded diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. California formed a task force to study reparations. Buildings, schools and roads were renamed. Statues came down. This was peak woke, an old term that gained widespread usage around the protests.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Online fundraiser for woman who used racial slur raises over $675K amid racist support
An online fundraiser purported to be for a woman in Minnesota who admitted in a viral video to calling a child the N-word at a public park has garnered more than $675,000 in donations, many of which came with comments espousing white supremacist views. Many of the racist comments were posted by anonymous users or those using racist handles, and some even seemed to refer to Nazi symbolism. Among those donating money were 'White Unity Will Unite,' 'Black excellence fatigue,' 'Aunt Jemima,' 'Whitestandstrong' and 'White rise.' The comments and the commenting function were later removed from the page. 'These young generations of whites are sick of the bullying, intimidation and being made to shut up about race issues,' WhiteTexasMommy wrote on the fundraising page while contributing $50. NBC News captured the comment in a screenshot before it was removed. 'They call us racist because we are white. Nothing will ever make them happy. They've been given trillions of dollars. They've been allowed into our schools and neighborhoods, forced upon us at every turn, and they still aren't happy,' donor Heywildrich wrote on another since-removed post before contributing $88. Jacob Wells, a co-founder of the Christian crowd-funding platform GiveSendGo, said on social media that comments on the fundraiser had been disabled 'due to the unacceptable volume of racist and derogatory remarks.' 'We remain committed to ensuring all funds raised are delivered to the campaign recipients as intended,' he wrote. 'We unequivocally condemn the hateful comments that sought to fuel division and harmful narratives.' Prohibited fundraising campaigns on GiveSendGo include those for abortions, gender reassignment surgery and illegal activities, as well as those impersonating people or organizations. The fundraising page, related to an incident that took place April 28 in Rochester, Minnesota, appears to have been set up by a person with the same name as a woman who was recorded on video hurling racist slurs at a child of Somali heritage at a public park. She accused the child of stealing from her son's diaper bag. A post on the fundraising site says that the woman's family had been threatened and that personal information about her, such as her Social Security number, her phone number and her address, were leaked. NBC News hasn't verified whether the woman was the person in the video, nor whether she created the fundraising page. Attempts to reach her Monday weren't successful. Heather Wilson, a co-founder of GiveSendGo, told NBC News on Sunday that the fundraiser hasn't cleared the company's full verification process. 'No funds will be disbursed until that process is completed, which includes verifying the identity of the campaign organizer and their connection to the intended recipient,' she said. The Rochester branch of the NAACP also held a fundraiser to benefit the family of the child in the incident. 'Together, we raised $341,484. Love wins!' it said in a statement. 'In response to the family's wishes, we have now closed the GoFundMe page.' 'We stand in full solidarity with the child and his family—and with all those who believe in building a community where dignity, justice, and love prevail,' the statement added. On Monday, the Rochester Police Department said it had completed its investigation into the altercation and submitted its findings to the city attorney's office for review. The video, shot by Sharmake Omar, 30, and verified by NBC News, quickly gained traction online last week. Omar said that he intervened when he saw the woman berating the child and that she began using the slur repeatedly, which was captured in the video. In the video, the woman, apparently carrying her child away, answers, 'Yeah,' when she is asked whether she called the youth the slur. 'He took my son's stuff,' she says. Donations and comments poured in for the woman, who, according to the page, wants to use the money to relocate. 'Do not apologize. Do not be afraid. These people are cowards and we will show them their time is up,' an anonymous donor wrote in sending $10. 'Thank you for making a stand.' Other donors, whose posts have also been taken down, took aim at Black people. 'Everyone who truly loves and cares for our people are supporting you every step of the way. Any race traitor will be sent back with the blacks,' wrote someone who donated $10 under the handle Snipa. This article was originally published on
NBC News
05-05-2025
- NBC News
Fundraiser allegedly for woman who used racial slur against child draws racist comments of support
An online fundraiser purported to be for a woman in Minnesota who admitted in a viral video to calling a child the N-word at a public park has garnered more than $675,000 in donations, many of which came with comments espousing white supremacist views. Many of the racist comments were posted by anonymous users or those using racist handles, and some even seemed to refer to Nazi symbolism. Among those donating money were 'White Unity Will Unite,' 'Black excellence fatigue,' 'Aunt Jemima,' 'Whitestandstrong' and 'White rise.' The comments and the commenting function were later removed from the page. 'These young generations of whites are sick of the bullying, intimidation and being made to shut up about race issues,' WhiteTexasMommy wrote on the fundraising page while contributing $50. NBC News captured the comment in a screenshot before it was removed. 'They call us racist because we are white. Nothing will ever make them happy. They've been given trillions of dollars. They've been allowed into our schools and neighborhoods, forced upon us at every turn, and they still aren't happy,' donor Heywildrich wrote on another since-removed post before contributing $88. Jacob Wells, a co-founder of the Christian crowd-funding platform GiveSendGo, said on social media that comments on the fundraiser had been disabled 'due to the unacceptable volume of racist and derogatory remarks.' 'We remain committed to ensuring all funds raised are delivered to the campaign recipients as intended,' he wrote. 'We unequivocally condemn the hateful comments that sought to fuel division and harmful narratives.' Prohibited fundraising campaigns on GiveSendGo include those for abortions, gender reassignment surgery and illegal activities, as well as those impersonating people or organizations. The fundraising page, related to an incident that took place April 28 in Rochester, Minnesota, appears to have been set up by a person with the same name as a woman who was recorded on video hurling racist slurs at a child of Somali heritage at a public park. She accused the child of stealing from her son's diaper bag. A post on the fundraising site says that the woman's family had been threatened and that personal information about her, such as her Social Security number, her phone number and her address, were leaked. NBC News hasn't verified whether the woman was the person in the video, nor whether she created the fundraising page. Attempts to reach her Monday weren't successful. Heather Wilson, a co-founder of GiveSendGo, told NBC News on Sunday that the fundraiser hasn't cleared the company's full verification process. 'No funds will be disbursed until that process is completed, which includes verifying the identity of the campaign organizer and their connection to the intended recipient,' she said. The Rochester branch of the NAACP also held a fundraiser to benefit the family of the child in the incident. 'Together, we raised $341,484. Love wins!' it said in a statement. 'In response to the family's wishes, we have now closed the GoFundMe page.' 'We stand in full solidarity with the child and his family—and with all those who believe in building a community where dignity, justice, and love prevail,' the statement added. On Monday, the Rochester Police Department said it had completed its investigation into the altercation and submitted its findings to the city attorney's office for review. The video, shot by Sharmake Omar, 30, and verified by NBC News, quickly gained traction online last week. Omar said that he intervened when he saw the woman berating the child and that she began using the slur repeatedly, which was captured in the video. In the video, the woman, apparently carrying her child away, answers, 'Yeah,' when she is asked whether she called the youth the slur. 'He took my son's stuff,' she says. Donations and comments poured in for the woman, who, according to the page, wants to use the money to relocate. 'Do not apologize. Do not be afraid. These people are cowards and we will show them their time is up,' an anonymous donor wrote in sending $10. 'Thank you for making a stand.' Other donors, whose posts have also been taken down, took aim at Black people. 'Everyone who truly loves and cares for our people are supporting you every step of the way. Any race traitor will be sent back with the blacks,' wrote someone who donated $10 under the handle Snipa.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Recall On Pearl Milling Company Pancake Mix Just Upgraded To ‘Deadly' Risk
Before you plan on pancakes for Saturday brunch, you may want to check the label on any boxes of dry mix in your pantry. When the Quaker Oats Company first announced a voluntary recall of Pearl Milling Company Original Pancake & Waffle Mix in January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration deemed it 'pending classification," per their protocols. On February 13, the government agency upgraded the recall to a Class I—the highest risk level—to determine that the pancake and waffle mix posed a 'reasonable probability' of 'serious adverse health consequences or death.' The recall of this popular dry mix, formerly known as the brand Aunt Jemima, affected 10,000 two-pound boxes that may have contained milk, though not advertised on the packaging. The products were distributed to Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi, as well as seven other states, with sales as early as November 18, 2024. Here's what to look for: A UPC code of 30000 65040 A best-by date of September 13, 2025 According to the FDA announcement, Quaker Oats—parent company of Pearl Milling Company—decided to recall the product after 'being alerted by a retail partner' of the issue. For those with a milk allergy or severe sensitivity, the undeclared ingredient could cause a life-threatening or deadly allergic reaction if consumed. So far, there have not been any reports of illness. If anyone in your household has a milk allergy, Quaker urges that you discard the recalled mix immediately. In addition, any consumers who have purchased the product can contact Quaker Consumer Relations at 1-800-407-2247. This is the only Pearl Milling Company product affected. Sounds like some good ol' fashioned from-scratch pancakes may be in order—with your milk of choice, of course. Read the original article on Southern Living
