Race and the American Novel Project part 1: Critical Commentary

In “Who Gets to Create the Lasting Images? The Problem of Black Representation in Uncles Tom’s Cabin” by Sophia Cantave, one of the main points I found most interesting: What has been the effect of this book on black people? In the text it talks about how Tourgee did a study and found that many ex-slaves did not think that the character of Tom was “ too meek”. The ex-slaves said that Tom was “critical of his masters” and that he was very outspoken compared to the reality of slavery in the south. In reality slaves wouldn’t dare to speak up to their master like Tom did. Black responses to Uncle Tom’s cabin were “evasive silences and complete acceptance of Stowe’s words and reactions, suggesting that her depictions are better than what slaves could have produced”(page 588). Some also say that Stowe was a voice for them to speak up since they could not. One ex-slave thought that she didn’t show the worst parts of slavery in her book simply because she didn’t know enough about it to do so. The author believes that the topic about races creates gaps and silences. She also believes that the discussion about races takes place among people not from the race of the topic of discussion. Whenever the topic of African Americans comes up, it is not African Americans who are taking part in the discussion.

         I think it’s interesting that ex-slaves did not think tom was meek character. From my point of view, I think Tom is a meek character and not very outspoken. When Eliza escapes and wants him to come with, he stays and is obedient to his masters. If he was not a meek character, I would think he would be rebellious and try to escape. Also when he is having conversation with his masters he has a very meek tone. He doesn’t speak up or talk back in a harsh way to his master, he has a very gentle tone. On page 85 the text says, “ Tom sat by, with his testament open on his knew, and his head leaning upon his hand; -but neither spoke”. Also on page 88 it says, “ Tom rose up meekly, to follow his new master”.  The word’s Stowe uses gives Tom this very meek and obedient personality. Not experiencing slavery, this is what my point of view is. I think if I had been a slave and had experienced it my thoughts on Tom’s character may have been different.

         I think from this text we can add to Uncle Tom’s cabin. This gives me a different point of view on Tom’s character and sheds light on a different way to view him. If I seen it from an ex-slaves point of view, I can see how Tom’s character is not meek and outspoken. Also, from this text it says, “ Yet according to one male former slave in Touregee’s study, Stowe ‘didn’t know what slavery was so she left out the worst of it’” ( page 589). When I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin, I couldn’t believe how the slaves were being treated. I can take away from this text that the description of slavery that Stowe wrote in Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a small portion of the truth compared to what she left out, which is a much harsher reality.

         I agree with the author when she says how the topic of race creates gaps and silences. Race is a big topic in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Hearing the topic of race and slavery from a white person’s view leaves gaps. Her point of view is only part of the story; the other point of view is that of a person that actually went through slavery, or is of the race of which the discussion is about. I think when the topic about African Americans came up, it was mostly whites who were discussing it because African Americans couldn’t speak there opinion back then and didn’t have that voice to fill in the gaps of the story.