Is Huckleberry Finn Racist?

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Is Huckleberry Finn Racist?

"What's in a name? / That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet," (eNotes.com). With this quote, Shakespeare took an approach towards the realism used by Mark Twain in his book, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Mark Twain, an author who grew up in the racially-biased southern society of the United States, wrote based upon what he saw and heard around him. As a result of this fact, the word “nigger” is used often to reflect the dialogue that was used at that time. Although this word is used, it should not be enough for people to accuse the book of being racist. “Huckleberry Finn” is not a racist novel, because of differences in the history, laws, and connotation that are associated with …show more content…

Such laws include Jim Crowe, which was supported by the KKK and other racial groups. These enforcements oppressed and invoked fear into the African-American south from between 1877 and ended in 1954, after the Brown versus Board of Education case when the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unlawful.Several African-American men and women from the south, who lived through segregation were able to finally have a voice on the matter after the segregation had ended. But, only decided to do so when they collaborated to write, “Remembering Jim Crow: African Americans Tell About Life in the Segregated South,” which was published in 2001. One of the first topics discussed in the first chapter is how the Jim Crow Laws actually affected them, “Jim Crow was not merely about the physical segregation of blacks and whites. Nor was segregation strictly about laws… In order to maintain dominance, whites needed more than the statues and signs… they only needed to reiterate black inferiority with every word and gesture, in every aspect of both public life and private life,” (Remembering Jim Crow). It hadn’t been a matter of splitting a city or region in half, but rather pushing a group of people into a corner and forcing them to submit to you, maybe making an example of someone by kicking them, even when they’ve fallen and are on the ground defensively. The end of segregation …show more content…

Mark Twain’s novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” is solely based upon the evolvement of Huck, rather than the society he is raised in. The use of the word “nigger” is common throughout the book, but isn’t any worse than what we use today, in the time period the book was written in. Laws that suppressed the African-Americans are also a factor that should be taken into consideration. Our history consists of several oppressions, but the treatment of civilians is a sensitive subject. Our own shame is what brings out the racist themes that dwell, but are not necessary, within the

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