Reminders of Heartlessness: Racism in "Huckleberry Finn" and Blackface Minstrel Shows

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Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written in the early 1880’s, persists as an internationally classic novel and a staple in American Literature. However, Twain’s depiction of Jim and use of the most powerful racial epithet in African American history caused ire to many who analyzed it as harsh and unnecessary to the publication of a “good” novel. Literary critics believe the reason behind Twain’s characterizations come from his immersion in the time of Realism, where Black Minstrel Shows were a popular form of entertainment. Mark Twain’s callous treatment of Jim parallels the racism publicized in Black Minstrel Shows.

Both Twain’s Jim and Black minstrel shows exemplify blacks alienation from society. Twain represents Jim’s disconnection in the early 1880’s by displaying the obvious diversity between black slaves and their white owners. Twain relays, “I (Huck) wouldn't shake my n-word, would I? – the only n-word I had in the world, and the only property" (Twain, 1985, chapter 31, para. 37). Although throughout the novel Huck develops a genuine friendship with Jim, the society he grows in prevents him from discerning Jim as anything but property. Twain makes it palpable that in the era of slavery, white humanity forces blacks into procuring a less valuable role, completely separated from the high regard of the white man.

Similarly, popular in this same era, Black Minstrelsy epitomizes advertising blacks as a lower being. Black Minstrel Shows publicize a white man appearing in blackface makeup and replicating the acts of slaves. By not allowing a black man to appear in these productions in their own skin, these shows demonstrate whites conception of blacks as property, and not as an equal being.

Secondly, Jim...

... middle of paper ...

..., one often blames it on where or how we were raised. Realistically, Mark Twain should have rights to the same excuse. He wrote his novel years after the “end” of racial discrimination, but references it because of how he was raised. In other words, Twain mirrors the immortality of society’s racism and stereotypes. All in all, Twain teaches that although we believe ourselves not to be stereotypical, these things will doubtlessly continue to survive many eras past Realism.

Works Cited

Carleton, H. J. (n.d.). Bones In Love. In Black-Face Minstreley . Retrieved November 17, 2011, from

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/huckfinn/minstrl.html

SparkNotes Editors. (2002). SparkNote on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/huckfinn/

Twain, M. (1985). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Penguin Books.

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