A few months ago, during the Confederate Battle Flag brouhaha, one of my friends indirectly accused Thomas Sowell of being an “Uncle Tom.”

I’ve heard that term before.  I know it’s a reference to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book and assumed Uncle Tom was a cowering Yes Man who did whatever he could to get in favour with his owner.

Today I learned that is not the case.  HBS intended Uncle Tom to be a noble hero.  I read the synopsis of the novel, and Uncle Tom was a man who stood by his principles and refused to do what he thought was wrong in spite of the consequences.