Aunt Jemima never actually existed, that we know of. According to Jezebel, she simply embodied the racial stereotype of a female servant for while families called a "mammy," who nurtured the household's white kids at the expense of time to devote to her own children. Her name was derived from a minstrel performer's vaudeville song called "Old Aunt Jemima," and the first-ever model for the logo was a woman named Nancy Green. Formally enslaved in Kentucky, Nancy grew to be an accomplished cook, storyteller, and activist.

Only six years ago in 2014, people who claimed to have ties with the Green family and another former Aunt Jemima model, sued the company. They alleged that the models had largely contributed to the pancake mix recipe and deserved a cut of the profits. However, the plaintiffs unfortunately lost their case, because the court couldn't find proof they were family members of the Aunt Jemima models.