Huck Finn is NOT a Racist Novel

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There is a major argument among literary critics whether Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is or is not a racist novel. The question boils down to the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and to the way he is treated by Huck and others. In the 1950s the effort to banish The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from required classroom reading lists came publicly to the floor again, not chiefly on the grounds that its depiction of black characters and the use of the word “nigger” were demeaning to African-American students. Many feel that Twain uses the word too loosely. However, many believe that Huck Finn should be taught in schools on the grounds that the novel’s racist theme accurately depicted what life was like for a slave in pre- Civil War times. Opponents of Huck Finn contend that literary censorship is acceptable. But is not censorship a violation of the first amendment? In places such as Philadelphia and New York City, they have adapted a new version which not only tones down the violence and dialects, but cuts all passages demeaning to African Americans. In today’s hypersensitive society, wouldn’t that be the entire book? It would be impossible to write a novel that did not offend at least one demographic. Being politically correct at the expense of a broadened mindset is simply not worth the sacrifice. There are mixed feelings regarding Huck Finn being taught in elementary schools. On one hand, its themes might be a little too mature for a child’s delicate psyche, confusing them on what is right or wrong. At the same time, one could argue that teaching it early in development allows adolescents to see the evils of slavery, so any potential prejudice can be abolished at a young age, thus reducing the number of hate crimes ... ... middle of paper ... ...If Huck Finn is to be banned in schools on the grounds that it is “racist,” then we should not be assigned any books. The Chocolate War should be banned because it uses offensive language and contains sexual content not suitable for junior high students; Julie of the Wolves should as well, because it contains violence, offensive language, and sexual content; Harry Potter, because it contradicts Christianity and endorses the occult, and And Then There Were None, whose ghastly murder techniques were quite disturbing to me as a 14-year-old. Furthermore, Poe’s morbid and violent works should be excommunicated because their content is unsuitable for “fragile minds.” In reality, should any of these books be banned? No. Maturity, sensitivity, and understanding are all that is needed to effectively teach to the children of tomorrow what is conveyed through these masterpieces.

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