Final answer:
In Maycomb, actions by African Americans like Tom were labeled as 'typical' due to entrenched racial stereotypes and cultural history shaping perceptions. Literature such as 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' exposed slavery's cruelty, but also met with opposition that reinforced racial myths.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of Maycomb, as depicted in literature, 'white folk' describe Tom's actions as 'typical' drawing on deep-seated racial prejudices and stereotypes perpetuated through generations. These stereotypes were fostered in part by a long history of misrepresentation and propaganda, where the dehumanization of African Americans was commonplace. White citizens of Maycomb, influenced by the Jim Crow laws and societal beliefs of racial superiority, often viewed the behaviors of African Americans through a distorted lens that labeled them as predictable and stereotypical, regardless of the individuals' actions or character.
Cultural history, as well as literature, has played a role in shaping these perceptions. Works like Uncle Tom's Cabin helped to reveal the moral corruption and cruelty within slavery but also faced vehement opposition. Southern literature often countered with depictions of an idyllic plantation life, which further reinforced racial stereotypes and downplayed the brutality of slavery. These portrayals influenced societal views, suggesting an unfounded natural order and perpetuating myths of racial inferiority.