The Day of the Tar Baby

As is commonly known, the Tar-Baby is the second of the Uncle Remus stories published in 1881 by Joel Chandler Harris. The story is about a doll made of tar and turpentine set out on the roadside by Br’er Fox to entrap Br’er Rabbit. When Br’er Rabbit comes by he addresses the Tar-Baby, but receives no response. Br’er Rabbit becomes offended. Eventually he loses his temper and punches the Tar-Baby, but his paw becomes stuck. Enraged, he punches with his free paw, but that too becomes stuck. Then he kicks the Tar-Baby, and both feet also become stuck. At this point, he becomes easy prey for Br’er Fox.

Br’er Rabbit strikes the first blow.

In modern usage, tar baby refers to a problematic situation that is only aggravated by additional involvement with it.

In contemporary usage, tar baby refers to the Middle East, and Br’er Rabbit is U-Know-Who.

Posted by Rschladale

Robert is a writer living in Northern California. His twin passions have always been writing and public service. After spending time as Assistant Secretary for California's Health and Human Services Agency, and as Finance manager overseeing the CalEPA and the Natural Resources Agency, he has launched a new career combining the two by incorporating current events into works of fiction.