“Are You Aunt Jemima’s Nephew?”

I read today that the makers of Aunt Jemima’s pancake mix and syrup are redesigning their marketing, in response to our current social conversations. I thought it time to tell a story.

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I’m old enough to remember when Disneyland was segregated. Opening in 1955, it was well known that they didn’t hire black employees, although they were happy to take our money if we insisted on giving it to them.

I probably went there first in about 1958, when I was six years old, and didn’t really notice the above fact. I was just delighted to see Minnie and Goofy. I was thrilled by it all, and when I went on the Jungle Cruise, and saw the first images of black people in the park — a head hunter and some native guides, I laughed and cheered along with everyone else.

The sobering moment came later. I was at the edge of Adventure Land, and while my family was doing whatever I wandered off and was looking around, by my six year old self. I noticed a large, pot-bellied white man watching me. He was smoking a pipe, and seemed a little “blurry”. Was he a bit intoxicated? It’s possible. Why was he watching me? I didn’t feel any alarm, even when he walked up to me in the crowd.

“Excuse me,” he said politely but a little unsteadily. “But are you Aunt Jemima’s nephew?”

I blinked. What in the world? I don’t remember how, but somehow I learned that there was an Aunt Jemima Pancake House in the park, and there was a black woman who played the part. She had…