Race and the American Novel Project: Part 1 (con't)

Critical Commentary (pages 532-595)

I chose to summarize the article written by Sophia Cantave titled “Who Gets to Create the Lasting Images? The Problem of Black Representation in Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.

Sophia Cantave writes about the usefulness of teaching Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the twenty-first century and the types of issues that the novel raises. Cantave writes that while Stowe succeeded in writing the novel, she did not accurately depict the “slave experience” because it is “trapped in multiple hegemonic constructions of power and nation as well as by self-imposed restrictions on language” (Cantave 584). The use of vulgar terms in the novel are shunned by African American middle class and offends many African American students. The use of these words raise the issue of racism and according to Cantave, it could “produce yet again another silencing in the present age” (590). Stowe’s images of Topsy and Sambo and Quimbo are looked down upon because it raises a lot more issues. Cantave also raises the point of humorous situations throughout the novel and how humor shouldn't be mixed with tragic. Without being able to fully understand slavery and the slave experience, teaching this novel in the twenty-first century raises more issues than it does in trying to make the audience understand.

In response to this article, I both agree and disagree with what Sophia Cantave is saying. I agree that this novel is a little hard to teach in the twenty-first century and not every generation will know what slavery is, but by high school/college every student should somewhat understand how hard it must’ve been for slaves in this time. I disagree that by teaching this novel it will raise the issue of racism because the novel is reviewed by scholars, taught to college students, and maybe taught in high school, okay. By this age, most, if not all students should be mature enough to know that the word ni**er is the most racist term ever created. By high school, hell, even middle school students know it’s wrong to say that. I don’t think this book will strike a racist side in students. In response to the understanding of the novel, the article raises a good point about the depiction of the slave life. However, the article raised several good points about Stowe’s writing and the amount criticism she’s gotten because of this novel.  Stowe put a lot of effort in this novel and I think Cantave would agree.