<p>So, I have to answer a Huck Finn prompt tomorrow on whether or not Huck Finn should be taught in high schools. I usually do not too well during in class prompt writing, so I'm trying to change that by preparing the night before. My teacher did supply us some critical articles on whether Huck Finn should be taught or not. What's the best way to prepare for this prompt so I can go to class knowing fully well what I'm going to write about?</p>
<p>Read the articles. A summary of Huck Finn could be helpful, too, if you haven’t read it already.</p>
<p>Well I did read it. And thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>The basic issue involved in whether Huck Finn is appropriate for a high school class is that it was written in the 19th century by Samuel Clemmens, who used the pen name Mark Twain, and the word “n—er” can be found on numerous occasions in the book. The story is set in the antebellum south and features Huck Finn as a white homeless, somewhat delinquent, teenager who befriends an escaped slave named Jim who is frequently referred to in the book as “n—er” Jim.</p>
<p>The book is a classic of American literature but its use of what we now consider to be a totally unacceptable (unless you are a rap singer) racial slur makes it very controversial to assign to high school students. The irony is that there are calls to ban the book because it is considered racist but a careful and insightful reading of the book actually shows it to be an indictment of slavery and racism as Huck begins to the human side of Jim and realizes that Black people are fundamentally no different from White people.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight Lemaitre1.</p>
<p>The novel uses the N-word because people living in those times DID use that word. It’s a fact. To ban the book for this reason or to censor that word out of it defeats the purpose of Huck Finn, which is an indictment of racism and slavery. In using the N-word, Twain can more virulently demonstrate the full extent of slavery in the South in the 1800s, presenting a more realistic view of what Jim must deal with. The book is not racist at all; rather, it condemns racism. Huck uses that word because he has been steeped in the racist Southern milieu, practically brain-washed into believe black people should be disrespected and viewed as lesser. Just because Huck Finndepicts racists using the N-word does not make the book itself racist. In fact, in staying true to his setting and characters by using the N-word Twain presents a better criticism of racism and more precisely illustrates the extent and depth of 19th century racism.</p>
<p>Talk about the “n” word and “slave” are two completely different words. They both mean different things and have different emphasises…if that’s even a word
Back in HUCK’s time (note: not ours) it was the norm to call a black person the “n” word. Also Huck is not racist, he comes to learn what is right.
The book itself is NOT racist… Twain wrote the book to speak about slavery and racism (and reflect society back then)… o.0</p>