Wow
we agree for once, at least about Aunt Jemima
Calling someone an Uncle Tom, however, would seem to be to be ABOUT racism rather than racist- because if you are an Uncle Tom you are a lackey to the white man, and thus part of the racist structure- unless people aren't even allowed to comment on minorities who become coopted by the racist sturcture which may (or may not, depending on your opinion) oppress them (or be there at all, again, depending on your opinion), I think you need a concept like Uncle Tomism. Aunt Jemima is clearly racist, though (imo, anyway- though I suppose you could argue it is the female version of the inportant concept of being an Uncle Tom- however, I think one word for that is all we need, and keeps the clarity of the term better, since Aunt Jemima also has many other connotations- Uncle Tom, on the other hand refers to a very clear socio-political situation). |
