Uncle Tom's Cabin newsletter
By: Gloria Zhang
The cultural interactions that took place in the early 1850's demonstrated the terrible mistreatment of African American slaves by the process of dehumanizing and abusing them as if they were merely property, and also downgrading their importance in society.
Uncle Tomitudes
The little white girl is portrayed as elegant and kind through her clothing and posture, while the black girl is dressed in poor clothing and has her arms crossed, showing that she is less elegant than the other little girl.
First Editions
This image is portraying that the title might as well be "life among the lowly" because the basis of the book is about the agonizing lives they lived.
Children's books
The children are being yelled at for having a good time, and playing like normal children do, while in reality it would have been no big deal if it was their own children.
Songs and poems
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Although the book is primarily centered around African Americans, the attention in the songs and plays produced are centered around young white children.
UTC on Stage
This image dehumanizes Uncle Tom by portraying him as a large creature with a devilish appearance.
Looking beyond
Looking beyond white superiority, it is shown that African Americans simply do not deserve happiness. They shall not have emotion, but should simply follow orders. They are not seen as people, but as property. Property usually does not have feelings or are human, therefore they dehumanize these slaves.
That was a surprise!
The most surprising thing about the images I examined was the use of children. I assumed that most images should be depicted towards adult slaves/slave owners, but most were through the use of children.