Is "Uncle Tom" a Racist Term?

[Revoltingest]

Cynthia:
Well, dang...I got no response to that.
Oh....wait.....
You go girl!

 

[Revoltingest]

Yeah...that's not how it's understood, at least by me, as my first post in this thread makes clear.

It seems there are several different understandings on this issue.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

It seems there are several different understandings on this issue.

I suppose that's to be expected.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

MLK's father was a Republican and a conservative. So was he an "Uncle Tom"

 

[Sunstone]

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.

As a black guy I'll say its not racist( to me and many black people I know) but quite a shunning term. Uncle Tom's are basically as said House ****** and especially in most of the black community the perception of pandering to the majority white population while putting your own kind down is viewed with great disgust and subtle pity.

Thanks! That's very helpful to my understanding of it.

 

[Huey09]

What if Thomas weren't pandering, & actually believed he was doing the right thing?

Whether or not he believed he was doing the right thing is all based on as I said Perception and to most black people I have met he's sorta right up there with Bryant Gumbel, Uncle Tom's are to us are like a dog pretending to be cat. You know its not what they are yet they continue with the "charade"(poor word choice). Also the retort with that is many people believe they are doing what's right but there's just as many people who say he is was wrong. House slaves often thought they were protecting slaves from greater punishment by exposing the trouble makers but many today saw them as panderers. AGAIN it depends on what you believe.

If the intent is to dismiss him for acting contrary to how some say a black man should
act, then this would appear to fit the definition of racism quite accurately.

In some ways I can concede that its partly prejudice.

Consider:
- A white judge could hold the same opinions, but not be an "Uncle Tom".
- But a black judge holding these opinions is subject to a racially specific insult.
- Without making a case that his beliefs are insincere, he is prejudged to be pandering to whites.

This comes down to a very VERY deep set of unwritten concepts and ideals by black americans. Many of us still hold a mentality of caution and skepticism around Whites especially those in authority. Conversely a decent sum of blacks believe in a sort of brotherhood mentality in that if you seem to isolate yourself from your racial demographic, work mostly with and agree with the majority. It gives the impression that you have forsaken your roots and/or and forgive the baseness and ignorance of the phrase but are "acting white." As for the white judge its almost expected to be put down,abused,ignored and exploited but in my own opinion its hurts worse coming from someone who shares your minority status.

So we have prejudice, race, & dehuminizing. This is not racism?
Well, that just doesn't ring true, so what else is going on?
There are additional factors:
- The accuser & the subject are both black.
- The accuser is a Democrat, & the subject is conservative (nominated & confirmed by Pubs).
Could it be that a blind eye is cast when racism would embarrass the left side of the aisle?

To the black population when you say picture a republican many would see either a wealthy businessman or a dirt poor country boy, both are often seen as insensitive or racist(Not that they are). Any black people siding with the conservative movement can in this view be seen as I said before Uncle Toms. I'm not saying its just nor am I saying its right. But I'm just giving a glimpse into the democrat's POV one shared by many other blacks in the US. I don't think that Thomas is less human or evil but form my own political standpoint I find many of his words and actions to be counter to black people and their interests, especially for a guy who is accused of getting his position based solely on his racial status.

 

[Huey09]

MLK's father was a Republican and a conservative. So was he an "Uncle Tom"

Actually many black were hard republican thanks to Lincoln, Grant and that the republicans ran on the abolition platform(even though quite a few in the party didn't like the idea nor thought of equality between races). the dramatic shift occurred when Nixon took many former Democrats who weren't comfortable with ideas set forth by LBJ and Kennedy shifted over to Nixon's "silent majority". Its also goes without saying quite a few left simple because of their deep racial prejudice against blacks in the democratic party.

 

[Revoltingest]

Whether or not he believed he was doing the right thing is all based on as I said Perception and to most black people I have met he's sorta right up there with Bryant Gumbel, Uncle Tom's are to us are like a dog pretending to be cat. You know its not what they are yet they continue with the "charade"(poor word choice). Also the retort with that is many people believe they are doing what's right but there's just as many people who say he is was wrong. House slaves often thought they were protecting slaves from greater punishment by exposing the trouble makers but many today saw them as panderers. AGAIN it depends on what you believe.

In some ways I can concede that its partly prejudice.

This comes down to a very VERY deep set of unwritten concepts and ideals by black americans. Many of us still hold a mentality of caution and skepticism around Whites especially those in authority. Conversely a decent sum of blacks believe in a sort of brotherhood mentality in that if you seem to isolate yourself from your racial demographic, work mostly with and agree with the majority. It gives the impression that you have forsaken your roots and/or and forgive the baseness and ignorance of the phrase but are "acting white." As for the white judge its almost expected to be put down,abused,ignored and exploited but in my own opinion its hurts worse coming from someone who shares your minority status.


To the black population when you say picture a republican many would see either a wealthy businessman or a dirt poor country boy, both are often seen as insensitive or racist(Not that they are). Any black people siding with the conservative movement can in this view be seen as I said before Uncle Toms. I'm not saying its just nor am I saying its right. But I'm just giving a glimpse into the democrat's POV one shared by many other blacks in the US. I don't think that Thomas is less human or evil but form my own political standpoint I find many of his words and actions to be counter to black people and their interests, especially for a guy who is accused of getting his position based solely on his racial status.

Sigh....that was a thoughtful & thorough exposition of your perspective.
You give me nothing to carp about!

 

[Iti oj]

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.

Apparently b you two b did not pay attention in history class

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.

yes considering the usage and history off the term.

 

[dust1n]

I think it is racist to believe that PoC's are to have one way of looking at the world and are not supposed to have diverse views. There is such a thing as liberal racism.

What is liberal racism?

 

[Huey09]

Sigh....that was a thoughtful & thorough exposition of your perspective.
You give me nothing to carp about!

Not possible! Reach deep down and find the carping I know you can do, I believe in you.

 

[Revoltingest]

Not possible! Reach deep down and find the carping I know you can do, I believe in you.

No, the problem is that conversation is about understanding the thoughts of another.
On that, you delivered. To wallow in rancor over disagreement is immature & yields
nothing interesting. You made no bogus claims to debunk. You insulted no one.
We even grok the circumstances similarly. You give me nothing to work with, poopy head!

 

[Father Heathen]

From wikipedia: "The term "Uncle Tom" is used as a derogatory epithet for an excessively subservient person, particularly when that person perceives their own lower-class status based on race. It is similarly used to negatively describe a person who betrays their own group by participating in its oppression, whether or not they do so willingly.[1][2]

The popular negative connotation of "Uncle Tom" has largely been attributed to numerous derivative works inspired by Uncle Tom's Cabin in the decade after its release, rather than the original novel itself, whose title character is a more positive figure.[3] These works lampooned and distorted the portrayal of Uncle Tom with politically loaded overtones."

The term and its usage doesn't seem "racist" to me, despite the racial nature of its origins.

 

[Revoltingest]

From Wikipedia's entry for "Uncle Tom"....

The phrase "Uncle Tom" has also become an epithet for a person who is slavish and excessively subservient to perceived authority figures, particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people; or any person perceived to be a participant in the oppression of their own group.

I added underlining to highlight the racial component of this insult.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I believe the problem is some folks think only white conservatives can be racist.

 

[Reverend Rick]

My biggest issue is when someone says a person is "acting white".

To believe a person should act or think a certain way because of their skin color is racist no matter who you are.

 

[Father Heathen]

My biggest issue is when someone says a person is "acting white".

To believe a person should act or think a certain way because of their skin color is racist no matter who you are.

This. Also, no one would get away with saying "acting black", however. An interesting double-standard.

 

[Sunstone]

My biggest issue is when someone says a person is "acting white".

To believe a person should act or think a certain way because of their skin color is racist no matter who you are.

In general, I think the charge that someone is "acting White" is often levied against people who are doing better than you and who you wish to bring down. That is, it seems to me on the face of it to be a petty and malicious accusation.

 

[Alceste]

This. Also, no one would get away with saying "acting black", however. An interesting double-standard.

Sure, people get away with that all the time, like when privileged kids adopt the dress and colloquialisms of rap culture. They're accused of "acting black" and it's common for people to be faintly embarrassed for them. IMO, it's more because it seems inauthentic than it is anything to do with their ethnicity, but that's just me.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

This. Also, no one would get away with saying "acting black", however. An interesting double-standard.

Are you kidding me? The accusation of trying to "act black" is leveled at chavs and w*****'s at the time and it is akin to saying a person is "low class"