Uncle Tom and the Politics of Loyalty: The Mutation of a Literary Character into a Racial Epithet, 1852 to Present

Studies in National and International Development Podcast Series

Uncle Tom and the Politics of Loyalty: The Mutation of a Literary Character into a Racial Epithet, 1852 to Present

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In this first podcast of the new Studies in National and International Development 2020-21 year, Dr. Chery Thompson leads the discussion.  Dr. Thompson explores the mutation of Uncle Tom from 19th C. literary character to the relentless reworking of Uncle Tom into a nostalgic racial metaphor with the power to shape how we see Black men.  How, whey and with what consequences for our society did Uncle Tom morph first into a servile old man (Josiah Henson) and then to a racial epithet hurled at Black men deemed, by other Black people, to have betrayed their race?  Learn more and listen in!

This virtual talk was given and recorded October 15th 2020.