jan 1, 1890 - The Tom Caricature

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In 1851, Tom was first depicted in Harriet Beecher Stowes’ novel, Unlce Tom’s Cabin. The fictional character has since been reinvented to suit rhetorical purposes and to match attitudes about blacks during a particular era. The Tom caricature is portrayed as a dependable worker who is eager to serve. Often pictured as an old man who is physically weak, with a noticeable smiling wide eyed and dark skin. His occupations are limited to a fieldworker, cook, butler or waiter. The Tom caricature suggests that African American males were happy to serve white folks and could only obtain occupations of domestic service

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