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.
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