Uncle tom
Uncle Tom
Meaning
A derogatory term for a black man who is servile towards white men.
Examples
Randy never stands up for us blacks. In the old days we’d have called him an Uncle Tom – these days people call him a coconut (that is, brown on the outside but white on the inside).
Where did it originate?
USA, 1920s. Derived from the name of the hero in the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Where is it used?
Worldwide, but most common in the USA.
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