By Ryan Shepard Dec 11, 2020 For 130 years, the Aunt Jemima brand featured a black woman named Aunt Jemima, who was originally dressed as a minstrel character. The brand’s name is based off an old minstrel song, “Old Aunt Jemima,” composed in 1875 by Billy Kersands, an African-American comedian and minstrel show performer. Nancy Green, who was formerly enslaved, was employed in the 1890s to promote the Aunt Jemima brand by demonstrating the pancake mix at expositions and fairs. She was a popular attraction because of her friendly personality, storytelling skills and warmth. Green signed a lifetime contract with the pancake company, and her image was used for packaging and ads.