Do you think the Mark Twain books are racist because the use the "n word"?

Question

I think that they simply reflect the time in history, and that the books, paticuarly Huck Finn, is actually non-racist because it shows how the poor young white breaks away from his prejudices and views Jim as a human being with feelings instead of property.

Answer 1

Twain's use of the n-word is not racist. In his time it was not a pejorative, but simply a slang word, no worse than the word "ain't."
In fact, "Huckleberry Finn" is perhaps the first American novel showing a black person as fully human. Jim was portrayed as an admirable human being; loving, thoughtful, and not a slave at heart. He was like a father to Huck, a homeless white boy, protecting him and providing moral guidance.

Answer 2

If the "n-word" is used as dialogue for a racist character it is simply appropriate for that character. But the books themselves are not racist. The only time you can call a book racist is if the primary message of the story is intolerance and racial prejudice. But in today's age we are losing sight of the difference.

Answer 3

That was the language of his day. The book is far from racist. And Twain, the least racist of all white American writers, up to then.

Answer 4

no of course not. Your right, it reflects that time in history when almost everyone used the "n" word. Its not a racist book.

Answer 5

No. It was just the era in which he lived, unfortunately.

Answer 6

I think you asked, and answered, your own question.