Huckleberry Finn Racism

In a nutshell, racism is prejudice and discrimination based on your race. Or short story long, it is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are many examples throughout the novel that show he is racist. Huck Finn is racist because he thinks that all blacks are the same, he believes that whites are superior to blacks, and he doesn’t consider blacks as people. First of all, Huckleberry Finn thinks that that all blacks are the same, in short, he stereotypes them. An example of this is in chapter 14; “‘I see it warn’t no use wasting words--you can’t learn a nigger to argue. So i quit’” (p. 80). This shows

Why, ME. … I tried to make out to myself that I warn't to blame, because I didn't run Jim off from his rightful owner; but it warn't no use, conscience up and says, every time, “But you knowed he was running for his freedom, and you could a paddled ashore and told somebody.” … “What had poor Miss Watson done to you that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say one single word? What did that poor old woman do to you that you could treat her so mean?” (p. 87).

Huckleberry Finn just thinks about Jim as Miss Watson’s nigger. On top of that, he feels guilty for the wrong reason, which is helping Jim escape from slavery. In conclusion, Huckleberry Finn is racist because he thinks that all blacks are the same, he believes that whites are superior to blacks, and he doesn’t consider blacks as people. He stereotypes them, thinks he’s above them, and treats them like property, not as people. Humans come a long way since then but still have many issues regarding racism. But, there’s a solution! Use Huckleberry Finn as a bad example, and no matter what colour your skin is, don’t be