"Mammy" Sponge Holder

This catalog is an ongoing project as we continue adding new pieces and researching listed items. If you have any information about an object in this collection, please reach out to us at info@aahafauquier.org

Description:

Ceramic sponge holder in the form of a black woman. This figure wears a red dress, white apron, and red head wrap. The hole in the back of this piece is meant for holding a sponge.

Product Origin:

Unknown.

Background:

The piece depicts the stereotypical “mammy” figure, closely resembling the notable “Aunt Jemima” character.

To learn more about this caricature, read "The Mammy Caricature", "Overlooked No More: Nancy Green, the ‘Real Aunt Jemima’", and "Aunt Jemima and the long-overdue rebrand of racist stereotypes."

Statement: We understand these objects may inflict offense through their embodiment of racist ideology by depicting stereotypical and discriminatory imagery and language. However, we hope to educate our community and encourage personal reflection through interacting and understanding the historical context of these objects, rather than ignoring them.