So said the Golden Age in 1927, because it went against racial stereotypes.
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN`was an evil book.
by badboy 6 Replies latest jw friends
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Mary
You're kidding.......do you have a direct quote and/or date when they said this??
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Larry
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a great book. Of course I read it when I departed from the BORG, b/c the 'Friends' didn't really want you to read any book other than the BORG's or any book dealing with race relations - past or present. I vaguely remember the BORG saying something about that book. Anyway, when I read the book it changed my perception of what a real 'Uncle Tom' was. Reminds me of a paper I wrote years ago:
Who Was Uncle Tom?
The last thing anybody would want to be labeled is an ?Uncle Tom? - Those are truly fighting words and understandably so. The term has taken on a negative connotation of , double-crosser, a nemesis to their own people, or a ?Judas Iscariot? of sorts. Uncle Tom is synonymous with unacceptable obedience or a man that will not fight back in the face of racial injustice . Webster?s dictionary defines ?Uncle Tom? as "a black who is overeager to win the approval of whites ." During the civil rights era being identified as an ?Uncle Tom? was equivalent to being called "a white man's nigga." For a conscious person of color to witness the defined behavior of an ?Uncle Tom? is truly repulsive.However, after reading Harriet Beecher Stowe
?s 1852 novel entitled "Life Among The Lowly" or better known as "Uncle Tom?s Cabin" I have revered respect for that fictional character Uncle Tom, because he lived in stark contrast to what we associate with ?Uncle Tom-ism? today. By 1879 there were at least forty-nine stage and minstrel shows that inappropriately portrayed Ms. Stowe?s characterization of Uncle Tom. The Minstrels compromise Uncle Tom?s humanistic & manly aspect for buffoonery content, completely reversing the trust of Ms. Stowe's original intent. It is the minstrel ?Uncle Tom? that epitomizes all the negative legacies we associate with the ?Uncle Toms? of today .The Background of The Book
The actual Uncle Tom was based on Josiah Henson who, in 1830, escaped slavery with his family across the Ohio River to Canada, and became a Methodist preacher, abolitionist, lecturer, and founder of a cooperative colony of former slaves in Canada. His chronicles, published in 1849, accorded Harriet Beecher Stowe with her model of Uncle Tom. The book, Uncle Tom?s Cabin, was highly successful. During the first week of its release, March 20, 1852, the novel sold 10,000 copies. In the first year of it?s publication over 300,000 copies were sold, by 1856 over two million copies were sold. In addition to that, it was published in 13 different languages. Through her book, Ms Stowe is credited by historians with changing the minds and hearts of many Americans and igniting the Civil War. When President Lincoln went to meet her he said, "So you're the little girl that started this big war." James Baldwin called the book "Everybody?s protest novel."One reason Ms. Stowe wrote Uncle Tom?s Cabin was to show the human side to slavery, which was a revolutionary concept at the time. In examining the duel relationship with the slave and slave owner she gave slavery an identity and a voice, thus causing many people, for the first time, to look at slaves as human beings with feelings and emotions in oppose to being view as everlasting chattel.
The Strength of Uncle Tom
On several occasions in the novel it may seem that Uncle Tom was spineless and cowardly. For example: When Uncle Tom?s owner, Mr Shelby, incurred serious debts, he is forced to sell Uncle Tom and a talented five-year-old boy named Harry to avoid financial ruin. Eliza, Harry's mother, overheard Mrs. Shelby talking about the transaction, thus prompting Eliza to run away with Harry. In her attempt she passes by Uncle Tom?s cabin while he is conducting a prayer meeting and tries to convince Uncle Tom to save himself, his wife, and his children to come along with her. Uncle Tom remains loyal his master and does not accompany Eliza on her journey to and across the Ohio River. He says "No, no -- I ain't going...I never have broke trust, nor used my pass no ways contrary to my word, and I never will." It may seem that Uncle Tom was cowardly from this action. However, he was a man of his word, but more importantly he was a man of God. He viewed running away as a disloyal act to his God. He wasn?t ?sucking? up to his master for better treatment, but was throughly convince of doing God?s will.
The courage of Uncle Tom is highlight when his new depraved master, Simeon Legree, orders Uncle Tom to beat one of his slaves named Lucy. Of course Uncle Tom?s conviction forbids him from hitting another human being, in fact he tell his master "if you mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to my raising my hand against any one here, I never shall - I'll die first!" This infuriates Legree, but Tom continues preaching to him "
I?ll give you all the work of my hands, all my time, all my strength; but my soul I won?t give up to mortal man. I will hold on to the Lord, and put his commands before all... I ain?t afraid to die...You may whip me, starve me, burn me, it?ll only send me sooner where I want to go." This only prompts Legree to viciously beat Tom until he is unconscious. Tom never really recovers from that beating.Tom?s persecutions continues, especially since Legree can?t break Tom into doing his will. This time, Legree?s mistress slaves, Cassy and Emmeline escapes. The hound dogs are confused and Legree demands for Tom to
reveal their location. Without hesitation Tom refuses, he even tells Legree that he knows where the females are, but he can not disclose that information. Legree now delegates the pummeling of Tom to his diabolical henchmen, Sambo and Quimbo. These two brutal overseers hate Tom, because they know that Tom was brought there to replace them. After the torturing, Tom is inches from death. But just before he expires he tells Legree "I forgive ye, with all my soul."These are clear examples of Uncle Tom being assaulted with the view of him abandoning his beliefs. However, to the chagrin of his enemies he remained steadfast. True, in nearly all occurrences he was submissive to his white masters, but on the matter of his faith he is unyielding, ultimately dying for the sake of his principles and convictions.
Uncle Tom and Jesus Christ
After reading the novel, one can not help notice the many similarities of Uncle Tom and Jesus Christ. Both are tortured to death, both successfully defies their oppressors and even prays for them at the end. In fact, because of Tom?s patience and love, just before Sambo and Quimbo kills him they realize the error of their ways and ask Tom for forgiveness. This is similar to the robber that was beside Jesus on the cross when he ask Jesus for forgiveness. Children loved Tom, just as the children loved Jesus. Tom, like Jesus consistently forgives the wrongs committed against him and turns to God in times of crisis. As you can see, the Uncle Tom based on Ms. Stowe?s novel was Christ-like and heroic in his behavior.
?Uncle Tom? TodayBased on the characters of the book, it is clear that the modern day ?Uncle Toms? or ?sell outs? should refer to Simeon Legree ?s two stooges, Sambo and Quimbo . They were the traitors of their people, maliciously inflicting pain on the servants for the sake of their master. As is the case today with African Americans who are overeager to win the approval of whites, Sambo and Quimbo ?s services were expendable to their master, he would have dropped them as soon as he found a more willing and effective task master.
When we call someone or hear someone being called an ?Uncle Tom? (and they are numerous), remember that Uncle Tom was not a ?sell out.? In fact, it is a discredit to Uncle Tom for traitorous African Americans to be called by his name. He was a dedicated man of God and never used his position to turn on his fellow slaves and advance himself. His character was grossly exaggerated and perpetuated for over 100 years ago through the minstrel shows produced by white entrepreneurs looking for comic and commercial value instead of staying true to the character created by Ms. Stowe.
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badboy
This was on a google discussion group.
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simplesally
Larry, that was an excellent synopsis. Now I want to read the book!
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dagg
the cat in the hat was pretty dang evil too!
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Kenneson
Before the Civil War, Harriet Beecher Stowe's name was "mud" here in Florida. She and her husband (circa 1867) bought property at Mandarin, which is near Jacksonville. She wrote a book about Florida entitled "Palmetto Leaves," thus helping to stir the tourist boom along the St. John's River. When tourists came to look over her estate/farm she charged 25 cents admission. In 1874 she visited the State Capitol at Tallahassee and received a big hearty welcome from the Governor and other dignitaries. Her brother, the Rev. Charles Beecher, lived at Newport, Florida (about 25 miles from Tallahassee) and was State Superintend of Public Instruction in 1871-72.
http://www.fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/stowe/stowe.htm
For photos of her visit to Tallahassee and of her place and home at Mandarin go to the Florida Photographic Collection at
Search Stowe, Harriet Beecher. I can't seem to get to the page any other way.