Do you think Black people who use the phrase "uncle tom" have ever read the book?

Question

Ever since high school, I was always confused by that phrase. I can only assume that people who use it have never read the book (I think this is a fair assumption).

In Uncle Tom's Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe) it is true that Tom was on overseer of sorts, but he was hated by the plantation owner for refusing to whip other slaves, in fact he was whipped for refusing to whip others. Tom ultimately was beaten to death because he talked other slaves into escaping and refused to give any information as to their whereabouts.

Uncle Tom sacrificed himself for the cause (and he was about to become a free man).

So why do we call people Uncle Toms?

Tara J - thinks Im an anti-white racist Lina H thinks Im a white butt kisser. I dont think either of them can read or comprehend well.

FYI to Lina H- Malcom X was Muslim, when he referred to uncle tom he was alluding to the fact that throughout the book Tom remained a faithful christian.

GET ON MY LEVEL!!!!!!

Lina H-agreed!!!! Malcom did change his position. Once he gained a certain amount of wisdom, he came to realize that not all white people are bad. He let go of the anger. So did Malcolm "sell out" did he become and Unle Tom?

Answer 1

Good point, and for what it's worth I don't think you're trying to "kiss white butt," and you sound like a very intelligent person. You've obviously looked into this instead of using the term blindly, which is what more people should do in this world.

I know that 20,30,40 years ago, different groups were banding together to fight for equality and a better day for EVERYBODY. But you were expected to have a certain amount of loyalty to your own group, however that was defined. Today, it seems like we need to forget those divisions and fight to move forward together. I get so ticked off at people accusing true fighters of "turning their back on their own race." If fighting for equality for everyone -black, white, asian, native, whatever - makes some people mad, I can't help that. I'm not turning my back on my race, because I'm fighting for the human race. I feel so sad when I see people like Bill Cosby getting criticism - he's so smart and has always fought against racial stereotypes and to improve the situation for black people and all people.

I guess the "Uncle Tom" is the equivalent of the "self-loating Jew." Both are stereotypes and need to disappear from society if we think we are truly progressive.



Linah H - You need to chill a bit dear! Why are you so defensive - do you and 0.02 have a history the rest of us don't know about? He's actually making a really good intelligent point. He's not saying those leaders didn't use that term, he's asking WHY it came to mean what it does. The book obviously doesn't have the same meaning, so why has it come to mean what it does in society? It's a valid question.

Answer 2

This is rather sad, but the ones that always get to me usually have the kiddish plots or something that isn't extremely apathetic. I cried at the end of both Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and Son of a Witch; and The Hunger Games. All three were sooo sad.. Btw: Hiii Light's Kira!! I don't ever get to see you anymore! If this is even the right user. :| [[edit]] Ok. Reading the few answers before me, this is obviously the real Light's Kira. :) Well yeah, hi. Haha. Hope you haven't forgotten about little ol' us. Ohh!! And the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath was sad; as well as the Catcher in the Rye

Answer 3

You are spot on! "have ever read the book? "

Most USAmericans are not readers. This is across all of the the ethinic designations in the USA. Why read, when you can wait for your next idea to be dictated to you?

Most USAmericans enjoy "arm-chairing" knowledge. They like to poll parrot or echo the popular flavour the day, without examining. the merits. The tragedy is the most passionate are often the most wrong. Score one for assimulation and another for immitation.

Thomas Josiah Henson after escaping slavery was an emancipator and abolitionist in his own right. He went back to free many of the enslaved.

He was also the father or grandfather of the discoverer of the North Pole Mathew Henson, and great-grandfather to Dr.Henson that etablished the first chiropratic college in the midwest and possibly the USA.

H.B. Stowe's book is a brilliant examination into the mentallity of those who claimed to be Christian and USAmericans. The preface itself is a must read and is pertinent to events today regarding ones personal responsibility toward others.


One other important point that I should make is that as Humans we often fail to correct ourselves when we find our own error. Young Malcom X made a few erroneous references in his speeches. Young people especially will make errors when passionate about a subject or just making their point. As he read and thought more he made the corrections. The most important being the truth about Human Rights and the brotherhood of Humans.

***MLK's marches/movement had more violence than all of the gatherings of Malcolm X combined. No women, children or men were injured in his marches. ***

Just for the record I have not herad the term used for a long, long, time.

Answer 4

When some one use the term uncle tom there talking about taxes. I thought they were calling the white man uncle tom because hes trying to get over or something like that

Answer 5

That's what i'd like to know. In 9th grade we saw that movie and afterwards I was so confused as to why uncle tom is an insult. He helped slaves escape and he wouldn't beat them.

Answer 6

Most black people who use that towards me haven't read it, or anything else for that matter. They just hate to see well off educated Africans that speaks proper English and have jobs.

Answer 7

Same goes when people think that lighter skinned people were treated better during slavery, when in reality they were beat and whipped just like everyone else, if not worse at times.

Answer 8

Interesting...

Answer 9

totally escapes me dude but am guessing they are totally ignorant of what the man stood for and against and have totally assigned to him the image of a subservient being

Answer 10

F**K TARA J and LINDAH H. THEY HAVE NO LIVES. It is just that some blacks hate to see blacks that speak well and are educated so they come up with names to call them.