Huck Finn

Euphonisms are so common today that we don't even think twice about saying

them. One euphonism that sticks out in my mind is "the n word" a.k.a nigger. Whenever

I myself use it it's most likely used when I hear it a bad way but in actuality today it's

used as a term of almost endearment. 80% of rap songs use the word to describe friends;

but back during the time Mark Twain used it in the novel Huck Finn it was a derogative

term used to put down African Americans. There's 287 pages in the novel and the word,

nigger is used 250 times. This means that about every 1 and half page you read you

encounter the word. Some people believe that the excessiveness of the word nigger

makes Mark Twain a racist, but you have to think deeper into his possible thought

process behind the novel.

When you hear nigger used derogatively, as it's used in this novel, it sounds harsh

and leaves an impression. That's exactly what Twain was trying to do. His book has left

such an impression on the world that over a thousand schools in America have banned the

novel because of the word and the racism it may suggest. What the people who ban the

books don't realize is that children and teenagers will encounter the word sometime in

their life anyways. By banning the book; sheltering children from the intensity of the

word it just creates a bigger problem.

Racism was and still is a huge part of America. Everywhere you go you can

plainly see it. No matter how badly parents; teachers or school administrators try to

ban the book; try to hide children and teenagers from the racism it entails, they will

still learn about racism. They'll learn about it in their classrooms, in their everyday

lives. Twain wrote a book that actually preaches that racism is wrong. Huck Finn

is a complete satire. It overexaggerates the language used by Jim; it constantly uses

the word nigger and it's way beyond it's years. It's amazing how Twains writing was

so clever and satirical. It's also amazing that he could depict such a character as Jim;

how he made Jim the epitome of how people thought of African Americans.

"Thinks I, what is the country a-coming to? It was 'lection day, and I was just about to

go and vote myself if I warn't too