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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Is being referred to as an "Uncle Tom" a compliment or an insult? Is there a female equivalent?
RosieG

Is being referred to as an "Uncle Tom" a compliment or an insult? Is there a female equivalent?

Posted - August 5, 2018
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Responses


  • It's an insult. 
      August 5, 2018 5:08 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    Why? What does it imply? I Googled it and got more confused. Apparently tom is a character in a book who was a nice guy got and was beaten. What am I supposed to  take away from that? Thank you for your reply DA and Happy Sunday! :)
      August 5, 2018 6:58 AM MDT
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  • 2219
    Something for the politically correct to get their teeth into. 
      August 5, 2018 6:03 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    The reason I'm asking Malizz is because I Googled it and am more confused by what I read. It seems Tom was a character in a book and beaten but was a good guy. So I don't  know what the moral is or what to think. Thank you for your reply although honestly I am still confused. Maybe others have a clearer idea and will be willing to share it. Happy Sunday! :) This post was edited by RosieG at August 5, 2018 6:11 AM MDT
      August 5, 2018 6:10 AM MDT
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  • 14795
    It's just a name for your mum or dads brothers if the were named Tom or Thomas....why add some other connotation that doesn't exist....? 
      August 5, 2018 6:44 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    Because I see it used here and there and hither and yon and the person to whom it refers is not names Tom D. Googling it confused me. A character in a book who is a nice guy who got beaten. So? Thank you for your reply and Happy Sunday to thee! :)
      August 5, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
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  • 35009
    It does have a meaning in the US.
      August 5, 2018 7:16 AM MDT
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  • 35009
    It is an insult. 

    In the black community, Uncle Tom eventually came to mean an African American who sells out his people's interests and still does today.

    It is not what the book was....Uncle Tom was a slave who was beaten to death because he refused to beat another slave. Uncle Tom in the book was a hero. 
      August 5, 2018 7:15 AM MDT
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  • 14795
    Are you talking about the Burr Rabbit stories.....I loved them as a kid...the film as well was brilliant ..
      August 5, 2018 9:11 AM MDT
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  • 35009
    No. It is a book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin". He was slave who stood up to his owner by refusing to beat another slave. He was beaten to death by his owner. 
    In the movie version, he is made out to be someone who was very meek and subservient and only worried about pleasing the white slave owner. This lead blacks to refer to some of others as Uncle Tom's if they look at someone as a "sellout" etc.
      August 5, 2018 4:40 PM MDT
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  • 14795
    I've never knew about that and don't know for sure if any did in England...
      August 5, 2018 4:43 PM MDT
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  • 35009
    I don't know if it was popular in Europe at all. Harriot Beecher Stowe is the author. The book was the best selling book of the 1800s (not counting the Bible of course) It is credited with fueling the anti-slavery movement and even the American Civil War itself. This post was edited by my2cents at August 5, 2018 4:58 PM MDT
      August 5, 2018 4:57 PM MDT
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  • 1502
    It’s an insult. It means a black man who will completely serve, sell out to, and be completely obedient to the white man. This is usually used towards black conservatives. 
      August 5, 2018 7:30 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    I feel your pain, Rosie. 


    https://www.theroot.com/when-uncle-tom-became-an-insult-1790879561


    This post was edited by tom jackson at August 5, 2018 4:49 PM MDT
      August 5, 2018 4:47 PM MDT
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