Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Martin Luther King Jr. Was an Uncle Tom...

Yes, you read the title correctly. And not only is that my opinion - it's fact.

Martin Luther King, Jr. stood up for what he believed in, despite what others said he should do and say. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for the rights of all oppressed people, but African-Americans in particular. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not personally believe in violence - even in self defense. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed for his principles.

The character of Uncle Tom did all of these things. Those who invoke the character of Uncle Tom whenever they encounter a black person who simply does not see things the same way they do, discredit themselves and do a great disservice to Dr. King, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and others like them, as well as those whom these men fought for. As well, they embarrass themselves because, clearly, they have never actually read the book, but are just spitting up what they've heard someone else say. When you hear someone use the "Uncle Tom" term, ask them if they've ever read the book, then ask them (if they say "no") how they, then, arrived at their conclusion on what the term meant.

Uncle Tom did not go out of his way to appease whites. His subservience was in an effort to embrace non-violence and to protect those BLACKS whom he loved. He harbored no love of what whites did to him, but he harbored no hate for them as people. That sounds like Gandhi and King to me.

These same people shout "By any means necessary" and have the image of Malcolm X holding an AK-47 at his window locked in their minds. Ask them about the man and his principles, and that is all they can tell you. They don't tell you that not long before he died, Malcolm had come closer to King and Gandhi's views.

To black people who speak English well, write with correct grammar, have opinions that don't always involve what "Da Man" has done to them, who dress to give the impression that they are NOT criminals, who have career interests other than rap and sports, and who don't listen to Hip-Hop religiously, take pride. The ones who do all of the above and try to pass it off with homogeneity as "black culture" when it is just "street culture", they are the Uncle Toms. They are selling out to what society wants. They are marketing themselves as minstrels and baboons to the financial pleasure of corporate executives internationally. And no matter how much money some of them make ("Diddy" comes to mind - among [several] others) doing it, you are actually the ones waking up from the matrix - not them. They may have the money to travel the world, but they have learned nothing from it.

Educated, multi-interested, worldly black people unite! You have nothing to lose but your gaudy gold chains!

6 comments:

  1. He wasnt an uncle tom...he was simply a christian. Would u call Jesus an uncle tom for turning his other cheek? No.

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    Replies
    1. Good God, did you even bother reading beyond the headline?

      You COMPLETELY missed the point of the article. It was tongue-in-cheek, pointing out that the use of the term "Uncle Tom" is inappropriate for ANYone because most people who use the term don't know its true meaning and apply it incorrectly.

      But of course, I shouldn't expect that in 2012 America, people read anything - let alone read AND comprehend.

      Please read again - with more focused comprehension.

      Delete
  2. Malcolm x wasn't holding an ak47 it was a m1 carbine with jungle taped mags

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  3. But why we only teach the oppressed the quotes from the bible to turn the other cheek and not defend himself........While the oppressor learn from the bible "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword".

    Why we teach the oppressed that uncle tom was a hero because he forgave the 2 men killing him......The writer was happy that his fellow white men are forgiven.

    Forgiveness is high quality when you have power.......when you have the ability to punish but instead choose to forgive is high quality which is rare to find........but when you are under the torture and you forgive shows that you are just a brain washed for submission

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  4. The last paragraph seemed like it contained maybe a tinge of anti blackness. I truly understand your point, and I think its brilliant in its own right. Yet, creating a binary of those who subscribe to such culture and those who don't is faulty. Because what you are actually critiquing is the intention or virtue behind this street culture, so don't come for the entire street culture itself. The overlap of intention&virtue and street culture most certainly does exist, and it is fortified and brilliant and intellectually lucrative. Also existing is the overlap of "uncle tom" behavior (selling out, lack of integrity, truth, loyalty, etc) and blacks who are literate, hold steady jobs, dress in a more conservative way, etc. And believe me, that is just as fortified, seemingly unwavering. I've seen both firsthand!! Interesting thoughts tho

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Please keep it civil - or face deletion...