Political Quotes

W.E.B. Du Bois: This deep religious fatalism, painted so beautifully in “Uncle Tom,” came soon to breed, as all fatalistic faiths will…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1903
This deep religious fatalism, painted so beautifully in “Uncle Tom,” came soon to breed, as all fatalistic faiths will, the sensualist side by side with the martyr.
Said by
W.E.B. Du Bois

Editor's note · Context

This passage explains how the religious fatalism prevalent among enslaved Black people, as depicted in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” could lead to both martyrdom and indulgence.

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