Huckleberry Finn Racism Essay

Racism, the discrimination, and prejudice towards people based on one’s race or ethnicity, through hurtful comments or harsh actions can have an immense impact. With the hopeful understanding that education and awareness can initiate change, society as a whole can begin to accept. In the Southern United States, during the 1850s, the culture of slavery and attitudes of the slaveholders was an accepted practice. Twain's novel, taking place in 1852, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, uses the setting of the Deep South, where discrimination and violence against African Americans are widely recognized. Conversely, during the 20th-century slavery had ultimately been abolished, though discrimination and racism were still rampant. The prejudice in

Invisible Man is shown clearly through impactful events and the narrator’s ideas and views as it pertains to him being a young black man. Both of these authors have a significant connection with discrimination, which ultimately changes their lives and views on this topic with their ultimate goal of bringing attention to this prominent issue. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, these literary pieces use various aspects of racism to bring light to America’s legacies and the events that are occurring during these respective time periods.
The racial stereotypes that persisted during America’s evolution are evident in schools, workplaces, and political institutions while ranging from political activist groups to presidents. In the 1890s, the government enacted Jim Crow Laws “which were seen as segregation and disenfranchisement” (PBS American Experience). These were state and local laws, administering racial segregation in the Southern United States. These directives enforce the segregation of Negroes and whites in public schools, transportation vehicles and public facilities such as bathrooms and drinking fountains. The intention of the government was to offer “separate but equal” treatment, however, it ultimately just promoted further divide and poor treatment of the blacks in America. Additionally, in supporting slaveholders, congress vowed to “impose penalties on anyone who aided in their flight” (History.com). The Fugitive Slave Acts initiated in 1850, gave ownership rights to white slave masters. This law allowed southern slave catchers to go into states that are free and take on any black person and accuse them of being a runaway slave. Furthermore, these laws prohibited trial by jury for these accused black people, which resulted in forced slavery. Despite the division, black leaders of the early 1900s joined with progressive white reformers to develop the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which focuses on attempting to establish equality and challenging segregation. These actions by the administration and the compliance by the citizens ultimately show the nation’s stance on racism and the obstacles to achieving equality.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the protagonist Huck both participates in racial injustice and discrimination, while at the same time sympathizing with his slave friend Jim.

Ultimately developing a true sense of a white man’s perspective towards blacks. In this novel, racism affects the characters immensely and the view of Negroes is evident as Jim saysz “When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out. I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (Twain 1300). This illustrates the attitude toward negroes with a complete disregard of their rights as humans. Consequently, Huck's attitude towards Jim at the beginning of the novel might be viewed as racist. He views Jim as less than a man, uneducated, without ideal viewpoints, and basically a piece of property. This quote describes the lack of respect and rights given to African Americans and their scarcity of representation in governmental offices or justices. Additionally, the reader begins to understand this lack of freedom as Jim, being a black runaway slave “said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom.”(Twain 1342). The reader is able to see the true view of white privilege and the actions and emotions of minorities upon having independence. Jim, Huck’s hideaway slave, was not running away for fun but rather from oppression and enslavement. This emotional response by Jim in

getting to a place of liberation, enforces the thought of not being a slave anymore, something Huck takes for granted. Only, later on, is Huck able to finally recognize how important the concept of slavery is, and how white men aren't able to understand the true feelings of African Americans.