Who balieves that Huckeberry Finn by Mark Twain should not be read in schools. Is it racist?

Question

I liked the book so I want to know what the liberals out there think!

I am so not a liberal. I just wanted to see what people would answer!

Answer 1

I think banning books from schools is nuts. Books are gifts. They are stories to excersize the mind. Twain's books are a reflection of his time like many of the classics. This is to be considered. Books like this are a part of history and should be read.

Answer 2

Twain means to show racism for what it is and does a good job. Just because Twain's characters are racist, doesn't mean the author is--such a reading is shallow and doesn't explore the deeper/true meaning of the work.

Huck treats Jim like a person. The language he uses is the only language he has to speak with. It is Huck's experience that makes him who he is.

If you consider the context of the novel and the time in which it is set, you will begin to understand what Twain was doing, which was not at all racist. In fact, Twain was speaking for the rights of all through his work.

I would like to add the being or not being a "liberal" has little to do with the ability to read this book in a positive manner. There is no need to create false dichotomies.

Answer 3

Of course the book is racist, by today's standards. But we can't go around banning historical books because society has changed. A book is a snapshot of the era in which it was written. As long as people understand that, there should be no problem.

The problem of racism will not be eradicated by banning words, or burning books, but by changing people. People need to grow and be more accepting of other races and cultures. Perhaps looking at historical books such as these will help educate people as to the mindset of people living in that time.

Answer 4

I think banning a book is crazy. As an african american I do not find it racist at all. The mentality of that time was ignorance,and it just portrays that,not society today. The book is meant to show how far we've come in the time in history,and at the time it was written it was meant to humiliate the south,and show them how low they have sunk,especially if they have an illiterate boy,describing the people and actions.

Answer 5

Would you all please, please, please stop labelling people as "liberal" for holding a viewpoint? It is becoming as derogatory an epithet as the "N" word itself because of the way it is hurled at people. As in, "oh, you must not have anything worth saying because you're just a liberal". I am so sick of it...

Yes this book should be read in schools! A good educator gets students to think about and discuss the material presented, not just, "here read this". As another reader responded, any book is a snapshop of the author's viewpoint within a time frame and cultural context. I think that Nazi propaganda, well presented, would be appropriate warning material to cover with high school students about the dangers of blind obedience and conformity! Let American children understand their heritage- few presented it better or more colorfully than Twain. to take his writings out of school for supposedly being racist is an attempt, in my opinion, to "Disnify" history. One way to teach respect is to show distinct examples of overt and subtle disrespect, and discuss them honestly- usage, origins, cultural context. Then the take-home message is much more clear than saying, "you can't read that because it is not accpetable to talk like that any more!" Banning literature is much more dangerous than exposing children to few not-so-nice concepts we wopuld prefer they did not know about. "Those who do not remember their history are condemned to repeat it". I seem to remember that line from somewhere?

Answer 6

I'm fairly liberal and I certainly think Huck Finn is OK to read in school. Try it again when you're 30 or 40. It's even better.

Answer 7

Yes it is racist, yet that provides the doorway to exploring the era of slavery. It should be required reading because of the author and the historical context.

Answer 8

It is actually about breaking down racial prejudices, so I have no idea why anyone bans the book as racist (except for the vernacular use of the "N word")-- unless of course they have never read it!

Answer 9

The subject matter and language can be distracting. No harm in carefully selecting the right reading material. Read all the books you want when you graduate!

Answer 10

excellent book. no, its not racist. it is a pretty good reflection of the world at that time.

Libertarian.