Uncle Tom's Cabin: Critical Commentary

            In James Baldwin’s article “Everybody’s Protest Novel,” one of his main points is how the oppressed and the oppressor come to live in the same reality. I believe Baldwin’s interpretation is accurately portrayed in the novel. Baldwin claims, “The oppressed and the oppressor are bound together within the same society; they accept the same criteria, they share the same beliefs, they both alike depend on the same reality” (537). This goes to illustrate the slaves and their owners both come recognize that slaves aren’t people but property. They recognize, accept, believe, and depend on the mutual understanding between on another to justify their actions and lifestyles, the slave in particular.   For example, Baldwin’s idea can be seen throughout “the heritage of the Negro in America: Wash me, cried the slave to his Maker, and I shall be whiter, whiter than snow” (537-538). Furthermore, it goes to show how the slaves have come to accept that they are inferior to whites. And as a result they desire to be more like them because “black is the color of evil; only the robes of the saved are white” (538).

            Baldwin’s interpretation of the text adds to the understanding of the novel by establishing another way in which slavery has been evil. The fact that slaves and slave owners both voluntarily come to live together in a world where they accept segregation brings to light another way in which objectification and dehumanization occurs. When both the oppressed and the oppressors see the world the same way that truly conveys how corrupt slavery is. Slavery, and the evilness it creates, becomes more apparent when black slaves are made inferior and white owners superior and neither party sees an issue. Again, this goes back to how the slaves have been dehumanized when their lives are considered to be lesser than those of others.