Wright and Uncle Tom Conflict

Wright is angry with his Uncle Tom for trying to whip him for talking “sassy” when in fact Wright was not being disrespectful. Uncle Tom woke up Wright to ask him what time it was. Wright responded that it was eighteen minutes past five and he indicated that his watch could be a few minutes slow or fast. When Wright did not give him a precise answer, his uncle became enraged and said that someone should teach this sassy “black imp” a lesson. Uncle Tom proceeded to tell Wright that he would give him a whipping that someone should have given him long ago. Uncle Tom’s reaction puzzled Wright as he did not believe he had said anything sassy; Wright was merely talking to his uncle like he would talk to anyone else.

Wright did not believe Uncle Tom had any right to whip him as the latter had recently moved in to Granny’s house. Uncle Tom had never been a part of his life and as such should not try to control the way Wright lived. Wright had been working and trying to help his Granny out for a while. Wright was not being impolite towards his uncle. Wright was determined he would not be beaten wrongly by someone simply who did not like his tone of voice. In addition, Wright deeply resented his Uncle Tom for telling him that he would “never amount to anything” and would end up in the gallows. Wright had dreams and pride and his uncle was not going to shatter them. As such, Wright insulted Uncle Tom by telling him he was not an example to him especially since all he did was to repair the bottom of chairs so people could sit in them.