Uncle Tomism

[ uhng-kuhl tom-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. a pattern of social behavior characterized by a willingly submissive attitude on the part of the Black participants in a given interaction and a benevolent but patronizing attitude on the part of the white participants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Uncle Tomism¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; Uncle Tom + -ism

Example Sentences

Like other marginalized groups — Jews of an earlier generation who objected to the tenement soap operas of Clifford Odets; blacks who found Uncle Tomism in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” — many gays saw betrayal in honest, let alone exaggerated, portraits.

From New York Times

As Sperb puts it: “Not only is Song of the South a movie derogatory because of its ‘Uncle Tomism,’ it was made by people who were well aware of the stereotype, who knew others would be offended, and who clearly felt there was nothing wrong with that.” 

From Slate

It was widely scorned among the African-American intelligentsia, who viewed it as an example of Uncle Tomism.

From New York Times

At the intermission, we got to talking and I asked them if they remembered when “Porgy and Bess” was viewed as Uncle Tomism.

From New York Times

Uncle Tomism, notwithstanding, Hill and the Fab Five both elected, for their own reasons, to play in the big house.

From New York Times