Huckleberry Finn Does Away With N-Word Jim

One of the most controversial books in history, Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn,” is being dramatically censored. By changing the “n-word” to the word “slave” and the word “injun” to “Indian”, critics have said that it will help make the book more child-friendly in schools. NewSouth Books, an independent publishing house, redid the novel after an English Professor at Auburn University went to them and proposed the idea.

Mark Twain wrote the novel in 1884. After 100 years of being in American Literature, it’s a bad move to even try censoring the classic piece.

There’s a reason why Twain used the n-word in his book and it’s not right for people to try and alter his novel just because they think the n-word is sensitive and too racist.

Huckleberry Finn teaches students about ignorance and the way people were during the 1800s. How can teachers educate the children about the true meaning of ignorance if publishing companies are censoring it?

Altering Twain’s piece is altering history since “Huckleberry Finn” is considered historical fiction.

The novel shouldn’t be taught to younger kids due to the complexity of the language. Kids won’t understand as much as high school students would and by downplaying Finn to a kid’s book, it would ruin Twain’s motives of using satire.

“Huckleberry Finn” has been banned repeatedly from schools for being racist, using the n-word 219 times and for depicting “Jim’s sambo-like character” in the story.

Critics believe by having a new clean version of the book, kids younger than high school will be able to read it. They also believe without the use of the n-word, it’ll help teachers educate the class about the novel without having the troubles of getting around to the racial slur.

*Following article was published in the February 2011 issue of The Scribe

*Following article was featured in dgotay.tumber.com in October 2011