Hentoff Summary
The classic novel written by Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", has caused great controversy over whether or not it should be removed from public schools in the United States. The National Advancement Association for Colored People (NAACP) supported banning the book from all public schools by filing grievances with the state's Human Rights Commission. Nat Hentoff, a nationally renowned authority on First Amendment rights as well as being a Mark Twain scholar, opposed the NAACP in favor of teaching from the book to students across the nation. Huck Finn has been a topic of considerable dilemma over whether or not it is, in fact, a racist or an anti-racist novel.In a Tribune article dated November 27, 1999 titled "NAACP wants Huck Finn expelled" Mr. Hentoff quotes the NAACP stating, "tax dollars should not be used to perpetuate a stereotype that has psychologically damaging effects on the self-esteem of African-
" In the end, Huck decides to follow the way of a "sound heart" by ripping up the note and declaring, "All right, then, I'll go to hell!" showing his decision to stay the course in freeing his friend. Huck is very unsure what to do at this point and struggles between a "sound heart" and a "deformed conscience. The climax of the story is when Huck struggles with the decision either to turn in his slave friend Jim with a note he had written or continue his course to free him. There is much support regarding Nat Hentoff's defense for "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" against the NAACP, and it is clear to see why. A very noble act of altruistic heroism is displayed by Huck in this novel and is a wonderful example to be followed by younger teenagers. After all, the novel does contain the word "nigger" over 200 times and it is easy to see why this may be offensive and damaging towards young African-American children. Hentoff records an eighth grader's opinion on the subject who said, "Do you think we're so dumb, that we don't know the difference between a racist book and an anti-racist book?" Judge Stephen Reinhardt also supported Mr. He places the value of friendship above that of worldly opposition despite any consequence of what may happen to him for helping to free Jim. However, the NAACP may be overlooking a thirteen year olds ability to comprehend satire and irony. Hentoff refers to an eighth graders capability to comprehend satire and irony. Hentoff's stand against the NAACP when he wrote, "Words can hurt, particularly racist epithets, but a necessary component of any education is learning to think critically about offensive ideas.
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Acceptance Essays
