The Tom

These were the complete opposites of the coon and the nat. They were happy, faithful, and submissive servants. They were the first line of defense that slavery was justified and not as bad as it seemed. The Tom often referred to as Uncle Tom was typically a smiling, wide-eyed, dark-skinned server. They were dependable workers, eager to serve. They were seen as docile and non-threatening to white people. They are often old, physically weak, and psychologically dependent on white people's approval. They were usually the figure who deemed other black people usually the coons when they refuse to work or express hatred for their oppressors.