In one tale, Br'er Fox constructs a doll out of a lump of tar and dresses it with some clothes. When Br'er Rabbit comes along, he addresses the tar "baby '' amiably, but receives no response. Br'er Rabbit becomes offended by what he perceives as the tar baby 's lack of manners, punches it and, in doing so, becomes stuck. The more Br'er Rabbit punches and kicks the tar baby out of rage, the worse he gets stuck.
what is brer rabbit's initial reaction when he encounters the tar-baby
he addresses the tar "baby '' amiably