Comparing “Uncle Tom” and the “Model Minority” Stereotype

This was written by Bing Chat.

I asked it to compare the two, and format it as a table. That specific prompt, to form it as a table, caused ChatGPT to find more parallel comparisons than it found without the request for a table.

Here is a table layout that compares the character of “Uncle Tom” and the “model minority stereotype”:

Uncle Tom	Model Minority
A Black person who is overeager to win the approval of whites by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.	A minority group or a member of such a group that is assumed to have achieved a high level of educational, economical, and professional success https://sociologydictionary.org/model-minority/ https://www.dictionary.com/e/historical-current-events/model-minority/.
A term that comes from the title character of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, who was a pious and faithful Black slave who uses nonresistance and gives his life to protect others who have escaped from slavery https://sociologydictionary.org/model-minority/ https://www.dictionary.com/e/historical-current-events/model-minority/.	A term that originated in the 1960s as a way to contrast Asian Americans with other minorities, especially Black Americans, who were seen as troublesome, lazy, and dependent on welfare https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.
A term that is used to criticize and shame Black people who are seen as subservient, cooperative, or traitorous to their own race https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.	A term that is used to praise and reward minority groups or individuals who are seen as conforming, assimilating, or contributing to the dominant culture https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.
A term that has a negative connotation and implies a lack of agency, dignity, and resistance https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.	A term that has a positive connotation but masks a lack of recognition, diversity, and inclusion https://hbr.org/2021/06/why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-harmful https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-model-minority-myth-6259907 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/model-minority.

I left out some of the preliminary language.

Below is the result of the query, without asking for a table:

The character of Uncle Tom and the model minority stereotype are both examples of how racialized groups are portrayed in ways that serve the interests of the dominant white culture. However, there are also some differences between them. Here is a possible comparison:

• Uncle Tom is a fictional character from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852 as an anti-slavery work. The model minority stereotype is a social construct that emerged in the mid-20th century as a way of praising Asian Americans for their perceived success and assimilation.
• Uncle Tom is depicted as a loyal, obedient, and Christian slave who refuses to resist or rebel against his white masters, even when they abuse or kill him. The model minority stereotype portrays Asian Americans as smart, hard-working, and self-reliant individuals who achieve high levels of education, income, and social status without complaining or demanding rights.
• Uncle Tom is seen by some readers as a sympathetic and heroic figure who sacrifices himself for the sake of others and exemplifies Christian virtues. The model minority stereotype is seen by some observers as a positive and flattering image that recognizes the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans.
• Uncle Tom is also seen by many critics as a submissive and spineless character who betrays his own people and reinforces the legitimacy of slavery and white supremacy. The model minority stereotype is also seen by many scholars and activists as a harmful and misleading myth that erases the diversity and challenges of Asian Americans and serves as a tool of racial oppression and division.

Commentary

Today, the term “uncle Tom” is used as an insult, to criticize people who are subservient to white society, and go along with the system, rather than fight the system.

The criticism of “Uncle Tom” personalities, since the 1960s, has to be understood within the context of history.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin (UTC) was the second most popular book of the 19th century, after the Bible.

UTC was a powerful anti-slavery work that exposed the horrors and cruelty of enslavement to a wide audience. Stowe used characters and scenes to appeal to the emotions and conscience of her readers. She wanted them to empathize with the enslaved people and to support the abolitionist cause. Her novel sparked a lot of controversy and debate, and it influenced the public opinion and politics of her time. It also inspired other writers and activists to speak out against slavery and injustice. Stowe’s novel is considered one of the most influential books in American history.

UTC was written by a white woman author, for a white, Northern audience. The character was a kind of “model minority” invented to appeal to white, Christian Northerners. It was a counter to the dehumanizing ideas about Black people common at the time.

Was Uncle Tom a “house slave”?

Technically, no. He was a head slave in the field, but not a house slave. So he was like a supervisor. That’s somewhat like a house slave — but Tom wasn’t an asshole. He wasn’t hated by the people he supervised.

Tom was sold by a “kind master” to a “cruel master”, Simon Legree.

At Legree’s, Tom helped two slaves escape. When he was found out, Legree ordered two slaves, Quimbo and Sambo, to whip Tom to death.

The two who aligned with the white master were Quimbo and Sambo, not Tom.

So, were radicals wrong to use “Uncle Tom” as an insult?

I don’t think so. The book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was popular with white people, specifically because it had this “noble, suffering slave” stereotype, that elevated a specific type of Black person as a kind of “model minority”.

Uncle Tom’s non-resistance to violence against him was reminiscent of white demands for nonviolent protest, and against self defense or armed resistance.

The novel didn’t reflect the slave or rebellious slave’s perspective.

So, with time, criticism of the book, and criticism of the characters, and criticism of actual people coalesced into “Uncle Tom” as an insult.

It might be useful to deconstruct the Model Minority myth by looking at its origins, and how it’s applied to actual people, and how it’s used as an insult. I won’t do it here, but it’s one way to think about how we use the term today.