Uncle Tom is a pejorative for a black person who is perceived by others as behaving in a subservient manner to White American authority figures, or as seeking ingratiation with them by way of unnecessary accommodation. The term Uncle Tom comes from the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, although there is debate over whether the character himself is deserving of the pejorative attributed to him.[1]
It is commonly used to describe black people whose political views or allegiances are considered by their critics as detrimental to blacks as a group.
Other terms with similar meanings
A more offensive term with the same meaning is "house nigger" and its euphemism "house slave." The term contrasts field workers from the days of slavery with those who worked in the master's home, who historically received preferential treatment. In 2002, actor/singer Harry Belafonte used a variation of the term, White House nigger, to characterize certain political figures.[2]
A similar term for black people is Oreo, implying that one is black on the outside but white on the inside like an Oreo cookie.citation needed Sometimes, women are called Aunt Jemima after the popular pancake mix that long depicted a kerchief-headed family cook of that name. These terms are considered offensive.
Native Americans in the United States sometimes will use the term Uncle Tomahawk.
Notable controversial users
In the 2007 Philadelphia mayor's race, Democratic hopeful Milton Street called fellow candidate Michael A. Nutter a "Watermelon Man" after a 1970 movie where a white man becomes black.[3]
During a 1995 game between the New Jersey Nets and the Utah Jazz, Nets' forward Derrick Coleman called the Jazz's Karl Malone, a conservative Republican off the court, an "Uncle Tom." [4] [5][6]
In 2008 the journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown referred to some Asians and Blacks who supported the British Conservative Party as "Uncle Toms". [7]
In 2008, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones called Delmarie Cobb of Chicago the racially charged word for Cobb speaking out in support of Hillary Clinton. [8]
See also
References
- ^ Keyes, Allison (2002-11-29). "NPR : A New Look at 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'", The Tavis Smiley Show, NPR. Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
- ^ Ronald Radosh (2002-10-24). "Harry's Hatreds", New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.
- ^ Mark McDonald (2007-02-16). "Milt (yep, that Milt) eyes mayoral tilt", Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
- ^ "New Jersey Nets forward Derrick Coleman calls Utah Jazz's forwards Karl Malone an Uncle Tom", Jet (1995-04-03). Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
- ^ Mike Wise (1995-03-17). "PRO BASKETBALL; Coleman Speaks, And Beard Cringes", New York Times, p. Section B, Page 15. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
- ^ "Campaign Contribution Search: Karl Malone".
- ^ Alibhai-Brown, Yasmin (2008-06-02). "Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: A lament for the death of the left as a political force", The Independent.
- ^ http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/08/25/chicago-clinton-supporter-obama-mentor-called-me-uncle-tom/
- (1969) in Osofsky, Gilbert: Puttin' On Ole Massa: The Slave Narratives of Henry Bibb, William Wells Brown, and Solomon Northup. Harper & Row. ASIN B0006BZ59E.
External links
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