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Ms Rachel calls out uncle tom (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 day ago by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world

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[–] ech@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I am not sure why it is racist to use it.

It's because the term is unrelated to the criticism and is only used here because he's a black man. If the criticism was about how he handled race relations in the US, then it'd be contextually appropriate, though still overly incendiary, imo.

I have heard Uncle Tom summarized as a person who sides with oppressors against the oppressed thus becoming a traitor.

Have you ever heard it used against someone who's not black? No, because it's not a general term for "oppressors" at large or of any race - it has a very specific and narrow use case. It's not an "insider jab", it's calling him out as a race traitor. Do you really think that's ok here?

Also, you keep saying "she". I don't know OPs gender, but Rachel didn't use the term, probably because she knows it's so inappropriate.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I didn't mean to sex Geneva, I went back to correct it to they. It was probably transfer from just reading Ms Rachel.

I don't think it was unrelated honestly. I have seen Uncle Tom used outside black culture many times, particularly in the workplace.

[–] ech@lemmy.ca 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I'm giving you context and specific reasons why it's wrong. "My coworkers use it" is not suitable proof that it's not. Maybe they're racist. Maybe they're just naive. It's at best anecdotal evidence.

TBH, I'm not really sure why you're still defending this after responding to OPs own disproportionate reply about what they meant. If it's a term you weren't familiar with, that's ok, but going out of your way to defend this is a good way to erode any plausible deniability you had.

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

Uncle Tom can be used unironically to describe a traitor of any group. I know this because this is how people use it.

I was just trying to understand why someone would say that and it not necessarily be racist. I think I understand it now. Obama can definitely be considered an Uncle Tom for many of his actions of betrayal (there were a lot).

I would not call him that though because I to feel it is disrespectful. Considering the death and destruction he caused is it really disrespectful though. This is where I can see someone throwing a rude comment back in his face because of how badly he failed the Middle East.

I don't think you are capable of recognizing this. That is okay.