“Because niggas don’t read.”

I'm a little relieved to see this because when I read Uncle Tom's Cabin, I also came away with the idea that Uncle Tom was fairly heroic rather than what the expression has come to mean. This feels like a deliberate effort by people to denigrate and occlude the message

I can see where it comes from. Referencing the book’s title instead of the two traitorous characters, leading to just referencing the title character by mistake, leading to confusion about what Uncle Tom’s role was in the story.

I have an alternate hypothesis that is a bit more conspiratorial after learning about "Tom shows". Seems like there was a very deliberate effort to flanderize this seminal black hero into being a villain by white people uncomfortable with the implications of his being a hero.

I just don't think its a coincidence that they were tied to Jim Crow. The actual Jim Crow.

There’s a reason for this. The book was made into a play & in the play Uncle Tom was played up to be a buffoon (because why would people in black face show him to be admirable). So that became the narrative. It wasn’t because people “didn’t read”. Similar to adapted shows today

Noe, listen. The book and characters were written from a liberal white lady's pov. Tom was not meant to be the antagonist, but he did uncle Tom stuff. Like risking his life to save white people; settling into a subservient role, and choosing to overlook racist attacks.

Keep in mind, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was supposedly inspired by the life of Rev. Josiah Henson, an actual runaway slave. Is the book liberal and even apologetic to a degree? Sure, but Henson’s own autobiography contains similar compromises for his (and his family’s) safety

Ok, fair I need to read that autobiography. I knew it was based a real figure (never thought the character was a bad person), I just assumed there was some spin based on the author; as if the character had to be angelic in order for readers to care about his oppression

I don’t disagree with you, there’s a reason we read this story in school and not the Confessions of Nat Turner

"niggas don't read nineteenth century abolitionist novels anymore"

The reason the term “Uncle Tom” became synonymous with “sellout” isn’t because people thought he was a traitor. It’s because he was seen as the archetype of the “acceptable” negro.

In reality, sometimes those house negroes were a low-key threat to the slave system because they were in closer proximity to the big house, and as a result could do more harm to the master and his family. How? By poisoning their food and drinks.

“You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.” I read everyday. And has open my eyes. At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America by Philip Day is my current book.

We ALL need to read more! it's 2026 this all came from ignorance NO MORE!

The term Uncle Tom didn’t originate from this book or the narrative of Josiah Henson, so the books definition actually matter

That’s not gone change the metaphor that’s no different from people using nigga whoever Uncle Tom is in that book has a real name so it doesn’t matter

Niggas like THIS ironically racist MF.

The way I’m going order this book!

It’s ain’t just 🥷🏿, most Americans don’t read either.

⚡️⚡️⚡️

Gotdamn clean your fucking glasses holy shit

That quote came from Malcolm

The actual reason was because they changed the characterization from the books when it was adapted to a stage play in the books. He's kind of strong and dignified in the stage play. They turned him to be much more subservient

Black folks in the BOTB cuz it's the farthest away from the authority figure

I always say this. When someone used Uncle Tom derogatorily around in convo I know they don’t read shit

Some of them straight up can’t.

I never sit at the back of the bus, ever.

Read some books. Please.

Damn…