Digital Publius: Of Toms and Sambos

Digital Publius: Of Toms and Sambos

How did "Uncle Tom" become a pejorative? The original, from the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a brave Christian man who gave his life to protect the fellow slaves he had helped to escape. The book, a best-seller, popularized the cause of abolishing slavery.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin is an astonishing book that remains relevant even to this day, every American should read it, as should every Christian in the entire world. By design it is filled with types and archetypes. Uncle Tom, the protagonist of this allegory; is a type of Christ. Tom is the perfect Christian, in fact he is a super Christian, which sheds light on why the enemy of mankind has worked so devilishly hard to turn Uncle Tom into a pejorative.

"Uncle Tom faces ignorance and the most bestial cruelty with supernatural Christlike compassion, patience and understanding. He acknowledges the seemingly overpowering evil of chattel slavery whilst recognizing the Christian mandate of allowing God to ultimately right the wrongs inflicted upon him. Tom had faith in the knowledge that what he suffered on earth was fleeting and nothing compared to an eternity of peace prepared by God Himself for those who believe in His Son. Tom had forgiveness in his heart and a true desire to see all those he encountered, even if they had done him evil, repent and come to faith in Christ....

"After one more appeal to Simon Legree to repent, where Tom declares he would happily give every ounce of his blood to save Legree's precious soul, Tom is beaten to death. Carrying to his grave the hiding place of the escaped slaves, which prompted the lethal Interrogation that cost him his life. Before Tom dies, Sambo and Quimbo, seeing his bravery as he faced death and the perplexing mercy Tom rendered in forgiving them and Legree during his murder, show genuine regret for the parts they played in his demise. The two implore Tom to share his faith in Christ with them and Tom prays with them and leads them both to Christ just before he breaths his last."

MORE: A digital copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, Twelve Years a Slave, Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery, The Life of Frederic Douglass, The Life of Josiah Henson, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is available from Amazon for only 99 cents.