Is "Uncle Tom" a Racist Term?

[Sunstone]

I'm curious about this. Would it be racist to call someone an "Uncle Tom"?

If so, what makes it racist?

If not, why is it not racist?

If you believe it is generally racist to call someone an "Uncle Tom", do you also believe there circumstances under which it would not be racist for someone to call someone else an "Uncle Tom"?

EDIT: Uncle Tom is a term sometimes used to denote a Black man who will do anything to stay in good terms with "the White man", including betray other Blacks. See the Urban Dictionary entry here.

 

[Revoltingest]

It is a derogatory term specifically to insult a black man because of his race, & how he is getting out of line.
(This is essentially the same answer I gave in the other thread.)

 

[Quintessence]

Uh... if I have an uncle named Tom, I'll call him uncle Tom??? Otherwise, why would I say that? I don't understand.

And I think that it's good that I don't. Because the only thing that would make it racist is people claiming that it is. I have never heard of this nonsense, and am going to pretend that I never did.

 

[dawny0826]

Uh... if I have an uncle named Tom, I'll call him uncle Tom??? Otherwise, why would I say that? I don't understand.

And I think that it's good that I don't. Because the only thing that would make it racist is people claiming that it is. I have never heard of this nonsense, and am going to pretend that I never did.

First time I've heard of it, myself.

 

[Revoltingest]

First time I've heard of it, myself.

Uncle Tom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

No, not really. An Uncle Tom is anyone who is a part of an oppressed or otherwise disadvantaged minority but who nevertheless plays kiss *** to the privileged social group like a lapdog. It's viewed as betrayal.

 

[Sunstone]

Uh... if I have an uncle named Tom, I'll call him uncle Tom??? Otherwise, why would I say that? I don't understand.

And I think that it's good that I don't. Because the only thing that would make it racist is people claiming that it is. I have never heard of this nonsense, and am going to pretend that I never did.

First time I've heard of it, myself.

For definitions of the term, see here.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think the person who it's used on, or against, should be the judge. I know I wouldn't use it, because I know its meaning, but often people don't know about racial slurs, because of age, geography, etc.

 

[Apex]

Looking at the definition it certainly sounds racist to me.

 

[Sunstone]

Looking at the definition it certainly sounds racist to me.

Fine, but why?

 

[Apex]

Fine, but why?

A derogatory racial epithet.

 

[Sunstone]

A derogatory racial epithet.

Thanks for the clarification. I don't see it myself, but I guess I can see how some folks would think that.

 

[Drolefille]

All I'm getting out of this is that no one reads Uncle Tom's Cabin anymore. Also possibly The King and I has fallen out of fashion.

 

[Sunstone]

All I'm getting out of this is that no one reads Uncle Tom's Cabin anymore. Also possibly The King and I has fallen out of fashion.

The term "Uncle Tom" comes from the movie, not the book. The movie totally changed Uncle Tom's character.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Fine, but why?

Because it is akin to calling someone a "House ******"

 

[Revoltingest]

Because it is akin to calling someone a "House ******"

That's exactly what I thought, but I lacked the courage to say "******".

 

[Drolefille]

The term "Uncle Tom" comes from the movie, not the book. The movie totally changed Uncle Tom's character.

Yeah I recall that, it's more like the "never heard the term" thing - reading the book would make you likely to be culturally familiar with the term.

But I could be making that up.

 

[Willamena]

First time I've heard of it, myself.

It's from an old book.

Older than you.

 

[Willamena]

I think the person who it's used on, or against, should be the judge. I know I wouldn't use it, because I know its meaning, but often people don't know about racial slurs, because of age, geography, etc.

I agree. It's context that gives it racist meaning.

 

[Sunstone]

It's from an old book.

Older than you.

Actually, in the book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", Uncle Tom is a pretty noble character. The movie re-cast him as a sellout, and that's from where the derogatory term comes.