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Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, And Rastus:
Alex Haley contributed to Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, And Rastus by writing the following foreword: Foreword By Alex Haley
“On September 29, 1967, I stood on a dock in Annapolis, Maryland, where my great-great-great-great-grandfather had been taken ashore two hundred years earlier on September 29, 1767. It was one of the moments when I truly realized the importance of knowing one’s history and the importance of documenting every facet of that history. Because for a long period of time it was against the law to teach slaves to read and write, much of black American history had to be documented by people other than blacks. As a result, much of our history has either been lost or severely distorted. Now that we have moved into a new era, there are many more opportunities for black Americans, and more and more books have been written that document the black experience. I am proud to say this is one of those books which offers a collection of information that is long overdue and chronicles the history of blacks in a critical area that has been previously under-recorded—advertising.
Advertising is an integral part of our lives, and we are constantly besieged by someone or some company urging us to buy this or that. It has been no secret that blacks in America have not been portrayed justly and fairly in advertising during the past decades. And the images of America’s blacks
perpetuated by advertising have not averaged very favorable. It is important for us to realize what effects such depictions have had on black people’s self-respect, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-identity. We can’t deny the importance of advertising and public relations in our lives as they are definitely a reality of human existence. I like the saying, ‘If you do not deal with what is truly the reality, then you can be certain that down the line the reality is going to deal with you.’
I am aware that Dr. Kern-Foxworth has been researching this topic for
years, and her diligence has paid off in the thoroughness of this book. All of the relevant areas are covered, and for those who still have questions, she has listed people and organizations which can assist in finding answers to those questions.
Appropriately, the book begins with slavery, which played a key role in
the shaping of black America. Dr. Kern-Foxworth demonstrates graphically some of the psychological problems deeply embedded within the black community that descend from slavery.
This book is timely because African-Americans have begun to reexamine,
investigate, analyze, and scrutinize their heritage more now than ever before. We have ceased shunning our past and are dedicating more time to understanding why and how slavery, Jim Crow, prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry became a part of the American way of life. As I travel from city to city in America, I see and hear people inquisitive about their ‘roots.’ I am asked by Americans of African descent about their heritage, legacies, and genealogy. I talk with black people who have acquired a greater appreciation for black artifacts and memorabilia, which is why there has been such a proliferation of interest in black collectibles, even those that are grotesque, demeaning, and denigrating to black Americans. This book provides a mirror of our past—a past that has been ignored or overshadowed for too long.” ~ Alex Haley
(The above foreword is presented to our audience under the Creative Commons License. Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, And Rastus is part of Contributions in Afro-American and African Studies, Number 168 © 1994 Marilyn Kern-Foxworth. All Rights Reserved.)
Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, And Rastus • Reviews “I felt bad...because after reading this book about what a horrible, racist image Aunt Jemima is...I was inspired to go get a box of her mix and eat pancakes three meals a day. Very informative book, it goes a bit far in blaming everything in the world on racism...as is the style of the day.” - Los Angeles, CA. “Great job! Research of this nature is very difficult to gather. This book to me is- a basic cross section of the history of this country. images like the ones in this book help to calm, comfort & remind consumers of ‘Days Gone Bye’. Sadly these are but a few articles {as negative as most of them are presented} that show blacks in any capacity. More peoples should know the history behind their kitchen cabinets. Some of these companies should be ashamed of their logos history. I wonder how many people of color hold top level positions in these companies.” - Chapel Hill, NC. “Marilyn Kern-Foxworth has given us something sorely missed—a rich and provocative compendium that chronicles African Americans in American advertising from the colonial period to the present.” - American Journalism. “Journalism professor Marilyn Kern-Foxworth looks at representations of African Americans in advertising from the 19th century to the present.” - Publishers Weekly. “Chronicles African Americans’ first appearances in advertisements in the United States....to the modern celebrity endorsement spots of Michael Jordan and Bill Cosby....A well-researched and -written book....The author does an excellent job of exploring the nuances of racial stereotyping....Recommended for history, black studies, and media studies collections.” - Library Journal. Experience Even More • Visit The Alex Haley Museum • Alex Haley Memorial • Haley Heritage Square • Alex Haley Farm
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