Huckleberry Finn Racist?

Since the time that Huckleberry Finn was published it has been criticized be a wide array of people, ranging from novelists to parents. Although the novel does contain the n-word, I hardly think that Mark Twain intended on writing a racist novel. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a sequel written to make money from the already popular adventures of Tom Sawyer. However, since the novels release critics have found every racist comment and implication in the book. Yet looking at the novel in a view that nigger was the word that people used to refer to black people the book is not racist

Throughout the book Jim and Huck experience quite an adventure as they travel along the river, and in almost every situation they are presented with Twain places Jim in a very positive light. Jim is constantly viewed as a compassionate, loving man, he cares a lot for Huck. In several scenes throughout the book we see Huck apologizing to Jim and referring to Jim as his friend. In one scene Huck actually says that he would rather go to hell then tell Miss Watson that he is aware of Jim’s whereabouts.

The people that argue that the book is racist often refer to the use of the n-word, however when Mark Twain was writing the book it was a much more commonly used word then it is now. Although it is a horribly racist term Mark Twain’s novel was the first novel to put a black man in a book as a central character, and create a relationship with the character. Jim is incredibly easy to love and personally I thought that he was the best character in the book.

In one of the essays we read about Huckleberry Finn we learned that Jim was a character based off of Mark Twain’s slave that his parents owned when he was growing up. A slave that Twain loved and respected, I feel that that is a clear indication that the character Jim was not put in the book to be made fun of or dehumanized but put in there to show a different opinion of black people, one that was positive.

Another big issue that the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn faces is the ending, over and over again people comment on Tom’s racist comments and actions. Tom forces Jim to live in a prison, coming up with the most degrading ways to treat Jim. However as I read the last 13 chapters of the book I felt that it was obvious that this particular part of the book was meant to be satirical, Mark Twain created elaborate schemes because he wanted the reader to know that the ending was purely satire.

I feel that this book isnt racist, and that it is a classic piece of literature that should be taught in classrooms across the country. It is a novel that can bring a sense of awareness about the n-word in classrooms everywhere. Huckleberry Finn is an important part of our curriculum.

For my essay concerning the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I would like to cite the following sources:

the documentary, T.S Elliot's essay, Peaches Henry's essay, Jane Smiley, the novel, Mr. Trillings essay and a few outside sources