Hentoff the Novel \"The Adventures

Hentoff

The novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," written by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) in 1885 has long been considered by some to be one of the first great American novels. However, the novel has also long been considered to be one that perpetuates stereotypes against African-Americans. Therefore, the book has often been at the center of great controversy over whether or not the book should be banned from public school systems in the United States.

The National Advancement Association for Colored People (NAACP) has long supported the banning of "Huck Finn" from all public school systems. The NAACP even filed grievances with state's Human Rights Commission departments, urging the removal of the book from mandatory reading lists. According to Nat Hentoff's article, "NAACP wants Huck Finn Expelled" on November 27, 1999, published in the Tribune, this is a mistake (Hentoff, A23).

Hentoff quotes the NAACP in his article as stating that the NAACP said "Tax dollars should not be used to perpetuate a stereotype that has psychologically damaging effects on the self-esteem of African-American children." The NAACP, according to Hentoff, believes that the book is a racist novel (Hentoff, A23).

Hentoff, on the other hand, opposes this belief in his article, challenging the idea of banning the book from public schools. Hentoff would like to see the book taught, for the very reasons the NAACP would like to see it banned. Hentoff believes, according to the article, that it is only by looking into the past that African-American children will be able to see past the terms such as "nigger," and see instead what the author was really trying to say. According to Hentoff, Huck Finn is actually anti-racist, in that the only adult character portrayed in the book as an honorable one is that of Jim. The use of the word nigger is historical in context, but does not change the fact that Jim is written about in a positive manner (Hentoff, A23).

I agree with Nat Hentoff that the book "Huck Finn" should be read in all public schools across the nation. Whether or not we want to admit it, racism did, and always will, exist within our society. It is only through discussing that racism at a young age, and by confronting the ideas of racism that we can teach children how to accept all colors and creeds.

A also agree that the portrayal of Jim in "Huck Finn" is that of a positive one. While there is no question of the racist world he is living in, Huck doesn't see those issues, and accepts Jim for who he is. That in and of its self is enough of a reason to teach the novel, in my opinion. Children of all ages need to learn to accept others, and the positive portrayal of Jim is a positive experience for all who read the novel.