Great-Grandchildren of 'Aunt Jemima' File $2 Billion Suit Against Quaker Oats The heirs of Anna Short Harrington -- the second-ever woman to serve as the face of the Aunt Jemima breakfast brand -- are alleging 60 years of unpaid royalties in a brand new lawsuit.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

While the Aunt Jemima breakfast brand likely conjures images of cottony pancakes and cloying syrup, the name Anna Short Harrington probably doesn't ring any bells.

But a new lawsuit centered around Harrington -- who was hired to portray Aunt Jemima after the brand's acquisition by Quaker Oats in 1926 -- alleges that her heirs never received any royalties from the earnings generated by her likeness and original recipes following her death in 1955.

Harrington's great-grandson, D.W. Hunter, filed a $2 billion class action suit -- on behalf of all of Harrington's heirs -- against PepsiCo and its Quaker Oats subsidiary in an Illinois district court last week.

Related: Franchisees Take 7-Eleven to Court for Alleged Racial Discrimination

He alleges that Quaker Oats denied that Harrington had been an employee in the wake of her death so as to avoid paying the family royalties, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The suit also names Pinnacle Foods, which licenses the Aunt Jemima brand for frozen foods, as well as Hillshire Brands, which previously sought to purchase Pinnacle.

It was only after receiving her death certificate, which listed Quaker Oats as Harrington's employer, that Hunter determined that he and his fellow great-grandchildren were rightfully owed a portion of the billions that the company raked in, according to the suit.

Related: Ex-Subway Franchisee Concocts a Bizarre $35 Million Blackmail Plot

While the origins of the Aunt Jemima character are said to have derived from a minstrel show (Harrington was the second woman to personify the role), the suit also "alleges a racial element to the exploitation," reports the Tribune.

Hunter claims that Quaker Oats exploited Harrington's "lack of education and age" by discouraging her from hiring a lawyer to negotiate her compensation contract. In addition to stealing 64 original formulas and 22 menus from Harrington, reports the Tribune, Quaker has also licensed out her image for merchandise like mugs and clothing.

Quaker, for its part, denies the claims. "People associate The Aunt Jemima Brand with warmth, hospitality and comfort," the company said in a statement. "We stand by this heritage as well as the ways in which we do business."

Related: Sticky Fingers: Man Claims IHOP Stole His 'Pancake Pile' App

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Branding

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity for Your Early-Stage Startup

Branding might not be your first priority, but neglecting it can hurt your startup. A strong brand identity early on sets the stage for marketing success.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.