Huckleberry Finn Racism Essay

Racism In Huckleberry Finn Analysis
Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, grew up in the antebellum south
where blacks were often viewed as nothing more than just ignorant, lazy, pieces of property with no
feelings. As Mark Twain grew older, the perception of blacks as ignorant property with no feelings
remained the same and even intensified to a certain extent. Surprisingly, around the time The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was written, Mark Twain opposed slavery and presumably cringed
at the common notion that blacks were just pieces of property and not even human beings.
Coincidentally, a significant character in the novel, Jim, and other minor characters that are black,
are portrayed throughout the novel as being stereotypical unintelligent, lazy...show more content...
The problem with Jocelyn Chadwick Joshua's interpretation (as well as other interpretations similar
to hers) is that they disregard the ignorance and laziness that Mark Twain attributes to Jim and other
blacks throughout the novel. The portrayal of ignorance and laziness is where the stereotype lies and
one can be portrayed as humane but still be portrayed as subservient, lazy and ignorant as well.
During the 1880s, which was the time The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was composed,
blacks were commonly stereotypically made fun of through the advent of Minstrelsy shows,
which began in the 1830s. The white actors would preform in "blackfaces", in which they would
carry out comic routines that poked racist fun at blacks, portraying them as lazy, ignorant and
irresponsible (318 Henretta). The combination of Minstrelsy shows and everyday racism towards
blacks during the time this novel was written profoundly influenced Mark Twain. Mark Twain
throughout the novel portrays Jim and other blacks stereotypically. This is evident in Chapter II,
when Tom and Huck play a prank on Jim while he is sleeping near Miss Watson's window
(portrays blacks as lazy) by taking his hat off. Once Jim wakes up and tells all of his fellow slaves
that witches took his hat, thus portraying Jim as ignorant (Twain 109–110). Throughout the entire
novel, Jim is portrayed as superstitious and practically
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Racism In Huckleberry Finn Essay
The controversy over the roots of racism lead back before the Civil War and have aroused
speculation within society to this present day. The role of racism in American society has caused a
wide mass of people to question whether society has even bothered to change the perspective in
regards to the issue. Everyone defines the "n–word" in different ways due to the way they have been
raised to know it, deriving it back to racism. The controversy over banning Mark Twain's The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has challenged the perspective over whether racism is diminishing
or continuing to expand. Twain's novel has caused disputes among society on whether it should be
allowed to teach at schools due to the mentioning of the word "n–word" more than 200 times, not to
forget the fact that it was published in 1885, a time where the Civil War ended andslavery was
declared gone, although not racism itself. To fix this, there has recently been a new edition of the
novel by replacing the "n–word" with the word "slave" although some people may argue that it
makes no effect to the meaning of the novel. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the title being
the name of one of the protagonists of the novel escapes the abuse of his father and re–encounters an
African American slave named Jim who has runaway from his owner. Throughout the novel, it
endeavors on the issue of racism by the whole idea centralising itself on it along with the effect the
"n–word" has within the novel. The "n–word"

Racism In Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain is an author who fought against, slavery, injustice, and discrimination in order to
highlight the crippling effects of racism through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . For some
time, many students, educators, and scholars debated whether Huckleberry Finn deserves its place
in our literary canon. Certain readers find the relationship between Huck and Jim especially
problematic due to the abundant use of the N word and Twain's stereotypical depiction of Jim. On
one hand, Jim is an uneducated slave who is always in peril due to Huck's playfulness and
immaturity. Yet, however, Jim is a complex secondary character crucial for Huck's development
from naivetГ© into maturity. (connect) Despite, the glaring overuse of racial epithets,...show more
content...
Jim's character is not a liability, but he is a moral compass that Huck needs to discuss critical
racial issues. At first, Huck thought " well then, ain't it natural for a Frenchman to talk different
from us? You answer me that" (Twain 103). Jim reveals that each person, whether American or
French is unequivocally equal. He teaches Huck that despite racial and cultural differences we are
all human. Twain wants readers to feel uncomfortable with the label Nigger because a word like "
'Slave' was a label Jim could outrun. 'Nigger' was not. To suggest otherwise, by treating 'nigger' and
'slave' as interchangeable, is to undermine the meaning of Jim's struggle for existence and the larger
African American experience"(Smith). Jim helps Huck understand the problems of racial superiority
and makes Huck understand that " 'they're after us'. he doesn't say they after you, but 'us'. That's the
moment where it becomes about the American dilemma"( 60 minutes). Huck realizes that both he
and Jim are outcasts in their society and there is no "white" or "black" but only them together. In this
critical moment, Huck understands Jim's predicament and they are not different from one another.
Jim and Huck are together on the raft, and that is all that

Huckleberry Finn Racism Quotes Analysis
In addition, both Twain and Pyle use discrimination as a motif in their story lines to further solidify
the relationships between the characters. Being that Jim is a black man in a southern country, he is
completely discriminated against and it's for that reason that Huck comes to Jim's rescue a number
of times during their adventures and is a key factor in their survival; during nighttime, Huck goes
into town to buy provisions and supplies. In the mornings, he slips into cornfields to "borrow,"
produce while Jim waits on the raff because he cannot be seen on land without drawing suspicion.
This demonstrates that it's not only Huck that depends on Jim to play the paternal role but also Jim
that depends on Huck as the provider. It's the...show more content...
During Huck and Jim's travel down the river, they meet several people that prove to be obstacles
in their overall goal to freedom. One of the more significant antagonists in Huck Finn is Pap,
Huck's drunken father, ''By and by re rolled out and jumped up on his feet looking wild... He chased
me round and round with a clasp–knife, calling me the Angel of Death, and saying that he would
kill me.'' (Twain 29). This event is essentially what finally made Huck abandon any desire he had
left to be part of society and instead to stand on his own morals and not let society dictate what he
does. Pap is the reason that Huck and Jim first met on the island and he is virtually what started
their adventure. Also Pap's next appearance in the book plays an essential role in the bonding of
Huck and Jim. As previously mentioned throughout the story readers see how Jim takes the
fatherly role, well that all began when Pap's dead body washed up in a house on shore and Jim
protects Huck from the pain of seeing his dead father. All this to say that Pap one of the major
antagonists in the story, plays a big role in strengthening the bond between Huck and Jim. This bond
eventually becomes the reason for why Huck is unable to turn in his friend; thus once again proving
that self–morals are more influential than society's ethics. To continue, like Pap, Prince John has no
regards for the feelings

What Is The Controversy Of Huckleberry Finn
Some literary critics agree with Ernest Hemingway that "all modern American literature comes from
one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn... it's the best book we've had. All American
writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since,"
(Hemingway). While others feel that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does not belong in the
literary canon and that it "is itself literally incoherent" (Jehlen). Unquestionably, it is now one of the
"most often debated major work in American literature" (Fertig). Although The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn has caused several controversies, one major debate is whether if it is racist or not.
Due to Twain's personal experiences and opposition of slavery, and his often...show more content...
Not only is the King selling Jim back into slavery cruel treatment in itself, but Twain portrays the
Phelpses as kind–hearted, gentle Christians. Huckleberry mentions that Silas Phelps "was the
innocentest, best old soul [he] ever see. But it warn't surprising; because [Silas] warn't only just a
farmer, he was a preacher, too" and when his wife Sally Phelps sees Tom walking up to the house,
who she does not know is Tom, she does not hesitate to having him over and excitingly states,
"why, I do believe it's a stranger... put on another plate for dinner" (Twain 229). Even though they
treat Jim better than others have, they still treat him fit to their beliefs and keep him locked up in
a shed since they believe that it is right to own him as their property because the color of his skin
makes him worth less than a white person. The Phelpses are depicted as good, big–hearted people
even if they embrace the South's institution of slavery. Tom Sawyer is actually harsher than the
Phelpses, and decides to help Huck free Jim. Unbeknownst to Huck and Jim, Jim's former owner
actually passed away right after he ran away so Jim has been free this whole time. There were
multiple instances when the boys could have set Jim free and all they had to do was "to lift up the
bedstead and slip off the chain" to get him freed, but Tom needed "a lot of difficulties and dangers"
to free Jim

Huckleberry Finn Racism
Published in 1885 by Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was very progressive for its
time. The novel shed new light on racism from the past and present years; most of the people living
in the southern states accepted the idea of racial separation. Most African Americans, free or not,
held little to no rights. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn does not explicitly ridicule racism, but rather
implies the negativity of it through various elements of the story. Twain's portrayal of Jim and
Huck's relationship with Jim help in uncovering what Twain believes to be the true nature of
racism. Jim is depicted as a dull, uneducated slave at the start of the novel. As soon as he escapes to
Jackson's Island, however, Twain portrays Jim as more...show more content...
Huck was happy to have found some company. "I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't lonesome,
now." (Twain 31). Jim was hesistant of Huck at first, believing him to be dead; after a short amount
of time, however, Jim and Huck began forming a friendship. Jim treated Huck as an equal, even
though Huck was much younger. Huck treated Jim the same way, ignoring the fact that Jim was an
African American. They both decide to sail down the Mississippi River to the Ohio River, where
Jim could take a steamboat up to the Free states. At one point, they sail into a heavy fog and get
separated on the river, with Jim on the raft and Huck in the canoe. Huck manages to sneak back
onto the raft without Jim noticing. Huck then plays a prank on Jim by claiming that the entire ordeal
never happened. Jim explained that he was heartbroken, because he thought that Huck had drowned.
Huck, feeling guilty, apologized to Jim: "I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done
that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way." (Twain 65). Apologizing to an African
American would have been unheard of at that time, and would have taken humility on Huck's part.
Nevertheless, the relationship between Jim and Huck continued to flourish, and Huck no longer
tried to trick Jim. At that point, Huck realized that he cares about Jim, and that Jim cares deeply about

Huckleberry Finn Racist
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was viewed as a racist novel, however, it was not. Mark
Twain was criticized for the book, although it was a learning experience for the meaning behind it.
The novel was created to raise attention for slavery and racism, it was also a great novel. Since it
was first published, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had attracted much controversy due to the
use of racial slurs in his writing which caused accusations that the author himself was racist,
unfortunately due to multiple issues, the novel was banned for a period of time. Samuel Clemens
had made the story become more interesting with the help of the characters which he had created,
Jim and Finn. Jim helped us learn and become convinced that Slavery was...show more content...
As a young boy, it's easy to get attached to someone or something. However, in Huck's case it was
called loyalty. The reward must've crossed his mind and made him think twice about hiding a
slave, but instead he thought that Jim was more important. Jim really captured Huck's emotion in
a way where it would've been hard for Jim to be the narrator and carry the same effect. It was
weird to Jim that Huck was willing to help him because Huck had a good life. He was brought up,
educated, fed, and dressed. These were what most kids back then didn't get. Jim was also Miss
Watson's slave so he worked for and around Huck. Furthermore, we can see that Huck wanted to
turn in Jim on multiple occasions. He was educated that every black person was at a lower level
than him and that their purpose was to make the white peoples lives easier. Pap also helped make
the story much more interesting, he helped Huck decide to run away and bump into Jim. It was a
coincidence that they met together, but we can easily see that Samuel Clemens has an eye for detail
and made sure that everything in the book had a purpose for

When Racism was Socially Acceptable
Racism was not always looked upon as offensive and arrogant. In The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn by Mark Twain, Huckleberry, also known as Huck, constantly uses the 'n– word,' along with
many other characters. Today, this would be socially offensive. However, in Huck's time, he is
raised to describe African Americans this way unlike modern times. Huck is racist because he thinks
himself to be superior to African Americans, he thinks slavery was good, and he doesn't believe that
African Americans are similar to the whites in any way.
First, Huck believes that white people are superior to African Americans. Aunt Sally and Huck
have a conversation about a malfunctioning riverboat. Aunt Sally asks " '. . . anybody hurt?' " to
which Huck replies, " 'No'm. Killed a n***er' " (p. 221). In these quotes, Aunt Sally and Huck
both disregard African Americans as people being hurt. Huck tricks Jim and Huck says to himself,
"It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n***er" (p.
86). In the previous quotes, Huck feels he cannot apologize to an African American, this suggests he
feels he is superior to Jim.
Second, Huckleberry thinks slavery is good. This is...show more content...
When Huck and Jim are with the Kind and the Duke one night, Jim is talking to himself. Huck
realizes he is talking about his wife and children. " ... I do believe he cared just as much for his
people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I reckon it's so" (p. 155). Huck
thinks that African Americans don't feel love the way that white people do. Another time, Huck and
Jim are arguing about whether French people speak like Americans and Huck says to himself, " I
see it warn't no use wasting words–you can't learn a n***er to argue. So I quit" (p. 80). He thinks
that unlike other people, you can't teach African

Huckleberry Finn Racism
The novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain is about Huck Finn, a thirteen
year old boy, learning his way through southern society in the 1830's and 1840's. When Mark
Twain writes this book, he used special dialect for Huck's speech to reflect the way children would
talk and act towards society around him. The idea of racism was there at that time, but it was not
looked down upon as a bad thing. Through Mark Twain's writings, Huck Finn travels on adventures
with Jim and shows his feelings through the way he talks. Because of the American Dream and
beliefs in southern society during the 1830's and 1840's, Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn convinces the audience to understand what Huck Finn believes during the 1830's...show more
content...
Throughout the novel, Huck Finn, a thirteen year–old boy, befriends Jim, a slave, during the 1830's
and 1840's in the south. Huck Finn is a genuine boy who reaches beyond society's thoughts on
becoming friends with a slave (Newell 4). Because Huck does not realize racism is a bad thing,
he treats Jim as a friend rather than a slave (Newell 5). In the middle of the novel when Huck Finn
felt terrible for stealing Jim away from Miss Watson, Huck writes a letter telling Miss Watson
where she could find Jim. Soon after he wrote the letter, he realized that writing that letter was
going to destroy his friendship with Jim, Huck responded saying, "I was a trembling, because I'd
got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my
breath, and then says to myself: 'All right, then, I'll go to hell' ––and tore it up" (Levin 2). This states
that Huck shows his emotional feelings towards Jim and helping him. Huck does not fully
understand the concept of racism during the 1830's and 1840's in southern society, which is why
Huck tries to help Jim whenever Jim is in need. Huck and Jim have a relationship consisting of each
other caring for one another's well being (Newell 4). During this time, society does not truly
understand the concept of racism being a negative, which leads to Huck's friendliness

Huckleberry Finn: An Unintentional Racist
Huckleberry Finn: An Unintentional Racist
Throughout the realistic, historical fiction novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark
Twain, the main character, "Huck," shows blatantly racist ideologies. Constantly, Huck's internal
conflict between helping a fugitive slave and turning him in divides him. Huck ultimately ends up
helping the slave, Jim, but treats him as subhuman, and takes advantage of his companionship.
Shown in the novel, Huck does not learn to stop being racist. This is made clear in chapters where
he allows others to make fun of Jim, refers to Jim as " my nigger," lies to Jim, etc. Huckleberry
Finn was brought up in the south during the 1830's–1840's, where slavery was legal, black people
were treated as subhuman, and racism was heavily influenced. Although it may not be Huck's fault
that he is racist, due to all of the societal pressure and influence he receives, his words and thoughts
show that he is undoubtledy a racist....show more content...
He says, "People would call me a low–down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum–but that
don't make no difference. I ain't a–going to tell" (Twain, 38). Here, Huck demonstrates loyalty to
Jim, by promising not to turn him in for running away. However, Huck promising not to tell anyone
is attributed to the fact that he faked his own death and ran away, leaving him incredibly lonesome.
Huck doesn't tell anyone about Jim, because he needs a companion, not because he is trying to help
end slavery, or even help one

Racism In Huckleberry Finn Essay
Throughout the novel, Huck's treatment of Jim is demeaning and racist. In The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, set in the 1800's, Huck, a white boy, and Jim, a runaway slave, travel together on
an adventure to escape. They form a bond throughout the story, although Huck's use of the n word
and other problematic remarks have raised the question can his racism be justified? If we look at the
dictionary definition of racism it states "prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against
someone of a different race based on the belief that one 's own race is superior." Most people believe
racism is just as simple as intentional displays of racial hostility, such as the Ku Klux Klan. But the
racism that happens the most is the type that...show more content...
Plus with noble respected figures around him like Miss Watson who owns slaves and uses the
n–word, Huck is surely going to have the n–word in his daily vocabulary. These truths do not change
the fact that this is all due to the normalization of the racial slur. Just because something is seen as
socially acceptable, it doesn't make it unproblematic and not offensive. If I were to spill juice on my
friend's shoes, but I didn't intend to, then does that mean I spilled juice on their shoes? Same
concept. Even with racism that doesn't have the intent on being racist, it does not take away the
effect it has. That is the root of what structural racism is, unintentionally being racist due to the
normalization of certain acts of racism. Others also argue that Huck used the n–word as a synonym
for "buddy" or "friend". Firstly, looking from how Huck always pulled pranks on Jim and pointed
out his ignorance, it's a reach to argue that Huck saw Jim as friend, and more likely as his personal
hypothetical punching bag. Secondly, Huck has used the n–word to demean Jim multiple times.
After Huck pulled another prank on Jim, Jim was hurt and he ranted at Huck. Huck's response, "It
was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n***** – but I
done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no mean tricks, and I
wouldn 't done that one if I'd knowed it would make

Theme Of Racism In Huckleberry Finn
School districts across America have banned the classic novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain, calling it racist. Taking place when slavery was still legal, the novel doesn't
promote racism, but instead holds a mirror to it, shining a light on the reality of racism that
existed. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the story of a 13 year old boy named Huck who runs
away from home. Huck is living with his guardian, a woman named Widow Douglas, and is being
taught to be "sivilized", when his father, a lowlife drunk, kidnaps him. Huck then escapes and joins
a runaway slave named Jim. Together they face many challenges as they travel along the
Mississippi River. The novel is not necessarily racist, but merely holding a mirror to the racism in
society of the 1840's. In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain holds a mirror to the racism in
society by showing how Huck changes overtime and strays from racist social norms, which
contrasts with the racist views of others. Twain shows the readers exactly how people viewed
blacks in the 1840's when Huck has to make up a racist lie to conform with Tom's Aunt Sally when
he says, "Now I struck an idea and fetched it out: 'I warn't the grounding–that didn't keep us back a
little. We blowed out a cylinder–head'
'Good gracious! Anybody hurt?'
'No'm. Killed a nigger'
'Well it's lucky' " (210). When Huck says that "nobody" was hurt, he is conforming to the racist
society and telling Tom's aunt what she wants to hear so

Huck Finn Racism Essay
Huck Finn Racism The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a Mark Twain classic, wonderfully
demonstrates pre–Civil War attitudes about blacks held by whites. Twain demonstrates these
attitudes through the actions and the speech of Huckleberry Finn, the narrator, and Jim, Miss
Watson's slave. These two main characters share a relationship that progresses from an acquaintance
to a friendship throughout the novel. It is through this relationship that Mark Twain gives his readers
the realization of just how different people's attitudes were before the Civil War. Twain also reveals
the negative attitudes of whites toward blacks by the cruel manner in which Jim is treated with such
inferiority. The beginning of Huck and Jim's...show more content...
Although Huck is a bit racist to Jim at the beginning of their journey, the negative attitude held by
Huck begins to fizzle as their adventure continues on. The more Huck and Jim go through
together, the closer the two become. Huck begins to see Jim as a friend and vice versa. By the
end of their journey, Huck disagrees with society's idea that blacks are inferior. One example of
this is evident when Huck doesn't tell anyone of Jim's whereabouts. Huck doesn't tell anyone
because he knows that if he does, Jim will be forced to return to slavery. Instead, Huck chooses to
"go to Hell" for his decision. He has shied away from society's acceptance of slavery. One of the
ways Twain exposes the folly of the negative attitudes toward blacks is through describing the
whites' cruel and pointless acts of hatred directed toward Jim. The least severe of the cruel acts
toward Jim is that whites often ridicule him. Another dehumanizing act is when Jim is made to
hide his face in the daytime. The most foolish and ignorant idea of the whites, however, is when
Silas Phelps locked up Jim. Another demonstration of the whites' folly is when Pap, Huck's father,
violently objects to the granting of suffrage to a black man. Pap does not take into consideration
that this man is an educated professor; he believes that he is superior to this black man simply
because of the color of his skin. In actuality, however, Pap is an uneducated drunk. This adds to the
irony of the white's actions.

Racism In Huckleberry Finn Research Paper
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, racism is one of the main topics that the story
is based around. The stories protagonist Huck, has grown up around slaves and even has a father
who would rather never vote again than to see an African American vote freely. "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).
Even though Huck has been subjected to all of society's views on blacks in the community and their
only usefulness as being a slave, Huck eventually finds himself in the situation where he cares more
for a black man, than he does his own father. The novel was written...show more content...
One might say that Huck had the motivation to help Jim escape because he knew it would go
against everything Pap believed in. Huck would go out of his way to do things just in spite of
Pap "" (Twain I would go to school.....). Now where Huck has this motivation to do anything to not
be anything like Pap, and to do everything in his power to go against him. Tom on the over hand
has spent his entire life growing up in a modern society home where he doesn't have any need to
go against what his (caretakers) tell him is okay and not okay...... Tom says "" (Twain). as a salve to
take care of their

Huckleberry Finn Racism Essay
Mark Twain, one of the most well–known and appreciated writers in America, wrote many novels
based on racial tension in the nineteenth century including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its
sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Upon publication, The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn was highly discussed because of the racial stereotypes and slurs included. As a result, the novel
became popular in a short amount of time and was temporarily banned due to the rising fuss it had
created about slavery and racism. Although there was strong evidence pointing the book towards
racism, a deeper look into the novel showed that there was actually an anti–racism theme. This
anti–racism theme is proved when Huckleberry Finn, a white teenage boy, and Jim,

In Mark Twain's novel, Adventures of HuckleBerry Finn, it tells a story of a kid running away from
his home, and an African–American man escaping from slavery. Twain uses the Mississippi River
as sort of a refuge from land for Huck and Jim. Although some aspects of the novel may appear to
be racist to some people, Twain and the story are againstslavery and racism. Throughout the novel,
Mark Twain uses the Mississippi River as a type of refuge from land. Twain uses the river as much
more than a way to get from place to place. He uses it as a temporary escape for Huck and Jim. A
great example of them using the river to get away is on page one hundred and eighty–six when they
run to boat and they get away from their problems that were created...show more content...
"So, in two seconds, away we went, a sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free
again and all by ourselves on the big river and nobody to bother us," (page 186). This is a part in
the book where they become free again. They use the river as a way to get freedom for both of
them. Even though, for Jim especially, to be completely free they wanted to be up north. They
did not end up in the northern states and they were still free. "What it was he'd planned to do if
the evasion worked all right and he managed to set a nigger free that was already free before?" (page
262). They did not need to be up north to really be free from slavery and Mark Twain did a great
job of showing and explaining that in the story. The main objective for the story was to get Jim and
Huck free from their past and they were able to achieve that.
Although some parts of Mark Twain's novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, may come off as
racist. The intentions of the novel is to be against slavery, even if it comes off to be the opposite
for some people. Twain's story is definitely against racism. The prevailing theme of the novel is to
be against racism while giving a little perspective on slavery and how it was in former

The Importance Of Racism In Huckleberry Finn
Racism is the diversity and discrimination based towards on one's race, which has been a problem
since World War 2. Mark Twain in the novel Huckleberry Finn intends to use the "N word" too
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Why Huckleberry Finn should be kept in classrooms.
Even Though the book does utilize racial slurs that are very deleterious in today's society, the book
should still be edified to students from today. The reason this word was utilized, so much
throughout Huckleberry Finn was because that is just the word people of color were called.This
book shows many things that transpired in racial history in the past and gives students a conception
of how people lived in the past. Huckleberry Finn does not only show racism toward people of color,
but it additionally shows the amity between a white boy named Huck and a slave named Jim.
Huckleberry Finn shows the friendship between two boys who were not allowed to be friends.
This book may have offended many people, but also demonstrated how a white boy became best
friends with a slave, and back in the day many believed slaves were bad people. One needs to
understand the history that back in the days when the book was published, slavery threatened to
divide the nation, but there was always an effort to keep the nation together. Throughout the years a
series of concessions were made on both sides in an effort to keep the union together"(Gale). For
this reason this book is really important, because after Huckleberry

The racism issue has always been in the spotlight in America. Many authors are criticized for being
offensive, and for taking it too far. The American population, constituted by immigrants from
different horizons, is a solid representation of cultural diversity. People from all races, religions and
walks of life inhabit the territory. Some voluntarily migrated in the quest of the American Dream,
others were traded against their wishes as slaves during the triangular commerce era. Dove and
Clements, respectively, in Banneker and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, illustrate the prejudice
directed against African Americans in very different ways.
With its racial language, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn still arises debates among scholars. Its
effects...show more content...
Of course, the way African American person would envision a work dealing with racism would be
different from the way a Caucasian author would visualize it. For one having to deal with the
subject matter first hand, and the other second hand only. For minorities, the situation is not just
about writing a book, but it is about denouncing actual stories that happened to real people. For
Rita Dove, the perception of the American public about the African American Scientist was
blurred and double sided. On one side, the innocence of his actions prevails while one the other,
the relentless racial prejudice follows his actions. When the Astronomer was observing the stars,
"The good people of Baltimore" said "he took a strong drink. Why else would he stay out under
the stars all night and why hadn't he married?" Mark Twain explains in his autobiography that
growing up he did not have any idea that racism, or being racist, was not normal, he did not think
anything was wrong with it, even his local church taught him it was recognized by God. We see the
same reaction in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, when Huck ripped up the letter he wrote to
Ms. Watson about Jim's whereabouts and said, "All right then, I'll go to hell." Huck thought he was
committing a sin and that God will punish him by sending him to hell, if he decide not to tell about
his friend Jim, the

Mark Twain has always been one of the most controversial authors of all time. Though in recent
years, there has been increasing controversy over the ideas expressed in his novel, The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In some extreme cases the novel has even been banned by
public school systems and censored by public libraries. The basis for this censorship is the
argument that Mark Twain's book is racist, but in reality Twain was against racism and used this
book to make people aware of what was going on in the south. He did this by using the regional
dialect of the south, showing the attitude of the other characters in the novel toward black people,
and showing his depiction of black characters. If one were to "read between the lines"...show more
content...
An example of Huck's dialect is "The widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she
sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and
descent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn't stand it no longer I lit out" (Twain
1). An example of Aunt Polly's mainstream, yet common dialect is "Tom, you didn't have to undo
your shirt collar where I sewed it, to pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" (Twain
6). An example of Jim's dialect is "Yo' ole father doan' know yit what he's a–gwyne to do. Some
times he spec he'll go 'way, nen den ag'in he spec he'll stay" (Twain 19). Racial slurs are used
throughout the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. They are not meant to be a representation
of the author's attitude, they are meant to accurately depict common language and expressions
regarding Black Americans at the time. Such expressions also reveal the attitudes of the time. An
example of the use of racial slurs is "The nigger run off the very night Huck Finn was killed. So
there's a reward out for him –– three hundred dollars" (Twain 55). Another use of racial slurs is
"Has everybody quit thinking the nigger done it?" (Twain 56). Perhaps the strongest example is a
quote from the character Injun Joe, "He had me horsewhipped! –horsewhipped in front of the jail,
like a nigger!"

Racism In Huckleberry Finn
If there is one book that almost everybody read while they were in school, it was probably
Huckleberry Finn. Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is considered to be a masterpiece of
American Literature and one of the greatest books ever written. In recent years however, there has
been much debate over whether the book is racist or not. A big part of that debate is the repeated
use of the racial slur "nigger", which many people find incredibly offensive, uncomfortable, and
racist. Because of this word, some schools have banned the book. One publishing company, New
South Books, has replaced the word "nigger" with the word "slave" to allow students and teachers
to feel more comfortable while reading it. While using the censored version of Huckleberry Finn
may make some people feel more comfortable, much of the book's meaning and message will be
lost. Censoring nigger will not teach readers the deeper meaning of it, remove the word's historical
meaning, and fail to get the main themes of the book across to the reader. In the modern era,
"nigger" is considered to be one of if not the worst words in the English language, due to its
connection to slavery and racism. Obviously, this word offends some students, and New South
Books suggests replacing the word with "slave" to prevent offending anybody. Censorship, however,
will cause more harm than simply reading the unedited version, as the reader will fail to understand
the complex meaning of the word. For example, in Huckleberry Finn,

Huckleberry Finn Racism Essay

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Huckleberry Finn Racism Essay