UNCLE TOMS and "TOMISM"

I would like to have an open and honest exploration of the phenomenon known as the “Uncle Tom”. Is the phenomenon an outdated pejorative that has no relevance in the modern era of American life? Was there ever in history a valid and objective means of identifying and branding a black person as such? Were those called out, in the past, ever accepting of this label or did they deny and rationalize their actions as being in the best interest of black people?

The origin of the term derived from the name of the hero in Harriet B. Stowe’s novel, Uncle Toms Cabin, (1851-52). It applied to servile black men. The popular working definitions and usage can be summarized as a black man considered by other blacks to be subservient to or to curry favor with whites. Uncle Tomism is viewed as a policy of relationship between whites and blacks involving a benevolent but patronizing attitude on the part of the whites and a willingly submissive attitude on the part of the blacks. Although originally a phenomenon linked to the male, there is no reason that a female could not be or have been guilty of the same.

In light of these historical usages, there is an objective criterion for establishing if the phenomenons exist today. Certainly, one would not expect to map the exact actions of Tomism from the 1920’s to Today, because the means of society are vastly different in degree or kind, even though the motives have not changed much. Thus, although one cannot say that black Toms of today are guilty of replicating the acts of Tomism of the past, we can conclude, from the working usage, whether or not the motives are the same, notwithstanding the different means. In short, the working definition gives an objective means of creating a template or benchmark to test for the occurrence of modern Tomism.

To be fair, one has to admit that we, black people, are nearly all guilty of Tomism, with the matter of degree being the major point of differentiation. I say that because we all know that whites run and dominate this country politically, economically and numerically, with the formers being disproportionately true. Thus, if we are to survive under such domination, it involves some degree Toming. Also, the degree of Tomism that one manifest, in conjunction with other characteristics, the more upwardly mobile one can become. Hence, Tomism offers more reward and promotion from white society than does the absence there of. However, the trade off is that one becomes complicit in the exploitation or oppression of the dominant group. For example, Tomism during slavery would have simply helped to promote and maintain the system of slavery. In those days, Tomism was known by the pejorative “House Negro”.

In light of all this, who are the Uncle Toms that standout to the highest degree in the present? At the top of the list would have to be the black conservatives. The reason being is that conservatism is the dominant ideology of the white masses and the ideology is the only legal conduit to exercise racism via the politics of denial of programs and assistance that is aimed at leveling the competitive playing field. Also, conservatism is the ideology that was swollen by bitter Southern white racist who abdicated the Democratic Party because of the parties push for civil rights and the end of segregation. Thus, conservative ideology in our representative form of democracy caters to a large base of whites who are racist and platforms must reflect this racism if the politicians of the ideology want to remain viable politically.

For black folks to join ranks as zealous outspoken advocates of these platforms is Tomism. Many of the inferences and conclusions of this platform allude to an unstated premise of black inferiority. For example, the conservative ideology places much emphasis on the individual, free will and personal responsibility. Hence, they see poverty as primarily an internally caused phenomenon born from individual laziness, bad choices and irresponsible acts. Thus, the fact that black people are 3 times poorer than whites implicitly concludes that blacks are 3 times as lazy, bad choice makers and irresponsible as whites....in other words...INFERIOR. What gene in black people makes this true, if these discrepancies are not the produce of a racist society? Also, this ideology wants to cut many of the programs, like Affirmative Action, that have helped blacks progress against the obstacles of white discrimination.

Tomism is also high among those blacks who can only seem to find non black people of the opposite gender to date or marry. I can understand demographics realities restricting the pool of available mates, for example, blacks in Vermont may not be exposed to a large enough pool. However, in places were there are large pools; it is hard to believe that one cannot find a qualified black to date or marry….if they really want to. This is not as true for the black female however….but the black male has no excuse. I think that when one makes a choice in a long term mate, it represents a vote of quality, rank and value for an individual. A vote for any group is automatically a vote against the other groups in the pool. When Alpha black males with high income and high profile positions choose not to share that life and success with a black female, that choice makes black women seem inferior, which only helps to promote negative self esteem in black women, relative to white women.

This is not to say that ALL interracial relationships are as such. Sometimes two souls are a better match than color and color should not be a barrier to such love. That having been said, the vast majority of relationships are born from superficialities and not the deepness of soul. Hence, bias often restricts the pool and thus the souls are filtered from superficialities….such as color. Now, narcissism is a natural and healthy bias, in moderation. A healthy self esteem about all aspects of oneself and being should lead one to choose a mate that shares some of these traits. However, if one sees something about themselves with insecurity, such as race, then they may become attracted to those who do not have the trait and this is essentially unhealthy.

In conclusion, we are all guilty of Tomism to a degree, but some are guiltier than others.