"Uncle Tom" is a character from Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The novel is credited with helping to fuel the abolitionist movement in the United States prior to the Civil War.

In the novel, Uncle Tom is a kind and religiously devout enslaved Black man who is known for his patience, loyalty, and willingness to endure suffering rather than betray his fellow enslaved individuals. While initially used as a term of respect and endearment for a Black man who was kind and submissive, over time, the term "Uncle Tom" has been distorted and misused to refer to a Black person who is perceived as submissive or too deferential to white authority.

It's important to note that the portrayal of Uncle Tom in Stowe's novel has been criticized for reinforcing stereotypes of Black individuals being submissive and content with their enslavement. However, Uncle Tom himself represents resilience, strength, and faith in the face of oppression.