Some thoughts about re-branding...

Please read this piece in the Washington Post by Michele L. Norris. I thought this was a beautifully written opinion piece about the trouble with brands "hijacking" the imagery of Black people. Despite our own emotional knee jerk reactions, these clearly aren't simple issues. When I announced to our newsletter subscribers on June 9th that we would be changing the name of my own company, Black Dinah Chocolatiers, the letter inspired hundreds of passionate responses. And when we posted about the decision on social media on June 11th, I received hundreds more - including multiple news articles and actual phoned-in threats to our factory from real live racists. Reading Ms. Norris's thoughts on her very personal relationship with her grandmother who was a traveling Aunt Jemima in the 40's and 50's, is a perspective I could have not arrived at on my own. And I am so grateful for her voice and the platform on which she can share it. I have always imagined that if Black Dinah Mountain was named for an actual person or persons, she was strong and powerful and wise. But I'm beginning to understand that it is not my place, nor the place of my brand - perceived or actual - to use her name - a name that is associated with Black women slaves - for profit or to push my own unrelated agenda. In any case, read Ms. Norris's piece. It's important.