Racism In Huck Finn Analysis

America has a rich past. From humble beginnings of Plymouth, this country has reached the status of worldwide superpower. Glorious victories over war and the economy are proud moments in the hearts of its citizens. As with every nation, evils of a time gone cannot be forgotten. Land of the free; built on the backs of the enslaved. The dark cloud of slavery was the source of strife for decades. Challenged a myriad of times, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn deals with the issue of slavery and racism in pre-Civil War America. The ideas in Huck Finn teach readers about the time in which it was set and the ideals the characters held. To teach Huck Finn is not to teach the racism or practice of slavery, but to teach the timeframe and its evils.

Slavery in the United States began in the early colony of Jamestown, Virginia. The practice grew because of the demand for inexpensive labor (Slavery in America, history.com). From the arrival of Africans in America, whites treated them poorly and did not think of them as humans. Up to the Civil War, owning slaves was socially acceptable. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place in this time. By knowing about the history of the setting, readers have a broader understanding of the novel’s elements of racism and slavery. Jim’s place in the story is also much clearer. He is seen as property and not regarded as a person. In the novel, Aunt Sally asks if anyone had been hurt and Huck said “ ‘No’m. Killed a nigger.’” (Twain, pg 211). Because of the disregard for blacks at the time, they were never considered. Twain’s intention was not to condone this idea but to enlighten the audience of the problem. The lesson Twain is intending is that everyone is a person, no matter their skin color.

Twain’s nove...

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...uide.). Taking into account the opinion of the NAACP, a respected organization in civil rights, one can present no counter argument to their obvious support of the novel.

Slavery was a dark element of America’s history. To refuse to educate the masses is to denounce its impact on America. Lessons learned from this era have shaped this country in an innumerable number of ways. By teaching Huck Finn, readers are educated about the truth of a dim time in American history. They are taught that slave owning and racial slurs were the social norm, not are. Explaining Twain’s true meaning brings a deeper level of understanding to the story itself and the generation in which it was written. Banning an idea or point of view will not hide what it stands for or discusses, but explaining said thought or stance acknowledges the topic, while neither endorsing nor denouncing it.