"Uncle Tom" is a fictional character created by Harriet Beecher Stowe in her anti-slavery novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which was published in 1852. The character of Uncle Tom, a devout Christian and enslaved African American, is often portrayed as submissive and obedient to his white master. While some view Uncle Tom as a symbol of passivity and compliance in the face of oppression, others see him as a complex character who displays strength, resilience, and compassion despite his circumstances.

Over time, the term "Uncle Tom" has been used pejoratively to describe African Americans who are perceived as submissive or traitorous to their own race. However, many scholars and activists argue that this stereotype oversimplifies the character of Uncle Tom and overlooks the broader themes of resistance and humanity present in Stowe's novel.

In the context of Black history, "Uncle Tom" and the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" played a significant role in shaping public opinion about slavery, contributing to the growing anti-slavery movement in the United States leading up to the Civil War. The character of Uncle Tom remains a controversial and complex figure in American literature and cultural history.