Who is Uncle Tom, the real story here...

Like the character of Kunta Kente in Roots

...no amount of oppression or cruelty could break his spirit. Word spread from state to state after he challenged his new master to stop the cruelty exacted on field hands by the overseers.

During an incident when the parents of a young female slave ran to Tom's cabin for his help to prevent Quimbo from raping their daughter, Tom confronted Legree as being the source of the evil that reigned terror on the entire plantation.

He offered his own back to the whip in exchange for the freedom of the young woman. The lack of fear for his own life and his willingness to stand up to Legree earned Tom the respected title of Uncle, a title reserved in those days for the most honorable male in any given plantation.

Black slaves adopted Tom as their own uncle and intercessor
between master and slave.

Word spread from state to state after he challenged his new master to stop the cruelty exacted on field hands by the overseers. During an incident when the parents of a young female slave ran to Tom's cabin for his help to prevent Quimbo from raping their daughter, Tom confronted Legree as being the source of the evil that reigned terror on the entire plantation.

This was the real Uncle Tom.

In addition to performing his assigned chores with the utmost precision, he became champion of the mistreated, and eventually the political opposition to the leaders.

Legree, as well as other owners of Tom, found that to mistreat Tom brought about a work slowdown.

Soon, Tom lived in his own cabin, which became the place of counsel and sanctuary for slaves with grievances.

His willingness to confront black and white injustice earned him a limited freedom long before the Civil War.

He did encounter opposition however, but it was not from white slave owners. His biggest enemies were those black overseers appointed as leaders over the people.

They were being increasingly challenged by slaves who found the bold courage of Uncle Tom very attractive.

The historical fact is that a quiet but growing movement could be found in plantation after plantation of slaves who wrapped themselves around the concept of individual rights and dignity. By the mid 1820's these rugged souls, who grew in their boldness to stand up to their overseers, became known as Uncle Toms.

Black leaders who discovered they had an Uncle Tom among those they supervised were struck with panic at the impending challenge to authority.

A line in the sand was drawn which some believe aided the spark we all know as the Civil War. The spark of contention, lit so long ago, continues to burn in the black community even today...

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Doesn't that feel good?