A city councilwoman in Virginia’s state capital is under scrutiny after a racist figurine in her home was spotted in a photo that she posted to her social media page Sunday.
Richmond City Councilwoman Reva Trammell has received some backlash for a photo in which she is posing in what appeared to be her kitchen with another family member. The photo, which has since been removed from her Facebook page, was captioned “we both need a haircut. lol”
But viewers of the social media post saw something other than what was atop the councilwoman’s head. Their eyes instead focused on what appeared to be a mammy jar that was located atop a cabinet.
Mammy jars, which began being produced in the United States in the late 19th century, typically reflect ugly stereotypes about Black women. Mammy miniatures, which soared in popularity as the Jim Crow era began, appeared as jars, salt and pepper shakers, and kitchen bells showing a caricature of a Black woman with exaggerated lips in a red-and-white gown and a matching head scarf. The objects portray Black women as subservient.
And while some Blacks may see it as a reminder of the prejudices that their ancestors faced, it gives some whites a sense of nostalgia.
“These figurines laud that time and present a ‘moonlight and magnolias’ view of slavery,” Keri Leigh Merritt, an Atlanta-based historian and author, told the New York Times in March 2019. “They show happy slaves and try to minimize the brutality and the violence and the horror that we know actually happened.”
Trammell, who represents the city’s 8th District, said she discarded the figurine and issued an apology to those who were offended by the post.
“First, I want to thank everyone for bringing this to my attention,” she wrote. “The figurine was given to me about 35 years ago and it has been on top of the kitchen cabinet ever since. I never thought much about it, but I do now realize that it is a hurtful item to many people,” her statement continues.
“For that reason I have taken it down and discarded it. I apologize for the hurt I may have caused,” it goes on. “My track record is one of deeply respecting my African-American 8th District family and all others. I dearly love all of my citizens and I am dedicated to serving the fine citizens of Richmond’s 8th District of all races and backgrounds.
“I pray that everyone stays safe during this Coronavirus pandemic. Let’s move forward together. Sincerely, Reva,” the statement ends.
Despite the apology, the post left some questioning whether Trammell had been truly ignorant of the figurine’s purpose.
“My grandma’s got one of those and she’s racist as hell and we don’t talk anymore so just saying,” Jennifer C. Martin tweeted Sunday.
Others found the councilwoman’s apology too hard to believe, and paired the incident with Trammell’s relationship with the Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
“Oh No she didn’t. Maybe that is why she treat our Mayor that way at meeting.”
“Explains a lot. This woman stays at the neck of @LevarStoney in #rvacouncil meetings. Complacency has allowed Trammell to overstay her welcome. Time is up. @006CVP Shameful. Don’t allow yourself to be used. It’s clear no black folk have ever been in her home. #RVA#Racist,”
Stoney also tweeted his thoughts.
“I was raised by a woman who worked in the homes of white people,” he tweeted. “This image isn’t just ‘hurtful to many people.’ Call it what it is – just plain racist against Black people. Now that you know better, do better.”
And Councilman Michael Jones, who represents the 9th district, scolded her.
“Google Racist Iconography and the ‘mammy’ jar that is in one of my colleagues house will come up. There is no excusing this away. Reva Trammel needs to give an account for this immediately. Maybe that is part of the reason why she was against my paper on Civil War memorabilia,” he tweeted.
But for some the object in the original post seemed all too familiar.
“Lol my momma had a bunch of these,” Twitter user Derek Cortez tweeted.
“Hits diff when it’s a white city councilwoman in the former capitol of the Confederacy,” user Stef Comedy Jam responded.
“Oh I know. Definitely not condoning it. I see these bad boys all over my town. I’ll never get used to it,” Cortez replied.
