Huckleberry Finn: To be taught in High Schools?

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In the course of the past half a decade, the adventures of Huckleberry Finn have been widely read throughout America by High School Students. The controversy surrounding Huck Finn in regards to American culture in the late 19th century through today is being described as strained by political correctness. Throughout the last 2 decades there have been campaigns organized against the teaching of this book in public schools across America. The main prosecutor being the NAACP, is not amused with its continuation. Huck Finn is widely slammed by its critics for being viewed as racist to African Americans. Pennsylvania NAACP President Charles Stokes states, "What you're saying is those words are OK, but they're not OK to a group of people,”(Harverd Edu.Gazzette). Others in the African American Community find the book satisfactory and savoring to 19th century Americana. “One of the difficulties in teaching "Huckleberry Finn” is that parents and teachers who object to its inclusion in the curriculum sometimes view the text through a lens colored by their own experiences, or by their community's experiences, or by the strained present of race relations.- Jocelyn Chadwick, Harvard Assistant Professor," (Harverd Edu.Gazzette). A battle fought about this book can be seen through a spectrum of race and skin color or the preservation of American culture and a 19th century literary masterpiece. Through much speculation, the book can be seen as ONLY a literary device used for teaching students about the literature of the time, the rich culture it brings, and learning support. By no means should the racism in the work be taken seriously. There are far worse books then Huckleberry Finn such as the Catcher and the Rye referencing prostitution an... ... middle of paper ... ...f-imagination is only an illusion of freedom,"(Horowitz 294). Paradoxically even though through out the book Huck is exploited as a typical ignorant Hill-Billy, and even though his adventures come up short at the end of the novel, in his search for true freedom, The book is free from the typical grammatical and composite binds most epic pieces have in today’s High School Classes. The book is truly one of a kind. It has survived a decade of criticism, has fought countless battles with its adversaries for control of its position of High school literature. Many other 19th century novels have come and gone off High school shelves. Huckleberry Finn has survived even after being called racist slammed countless times and having fought for its survival. Its Originality and legacy have made it a classic. And as Twain would put it," Humor is mankind's greatest blessing."

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