The Controversy Over Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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Recommended: The history of American literature

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a controversial book that has raised heated debates across America for the past century. It was ranked fifth most challenging books out of one hundred in the 1990s (Chadwick 2). Although this book is a hot topic, it should remain on shelves, and still be taught in schools.

While Huck Finn seems to be only a book of satire, most want this book banned because it is seen as highly racial. “The reading of Huck Finn is humiliating to back students. It contributes to low self-esteem. Only the insensitive and often unwittingly racist teachers respond ‘This book is a classic’ (Washington post 6).” The use of the word nigger upsets many black students and instigates the other students to use the word improperly. According to the San Fran Argonaut, Huck Finn is purely practical…the story has no plot. Mark Twain’s idea of teaching morals through a satire was greatly unappreciated and still today is greatly unappreciated by blacks, and some parents across America. The public needs to see the novel for what it truly is, and not just the simp...

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