Banned
One of the most controversial books that frequent the nations "Banned Book" list is "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", by Mark Twain. The novels history outlines years of being criticized, censored and banished from several public bookshelves. Recent challengers target the use of racial epithets and the manner African-American characters in the book are treated. First we must understand the time and place that the author tells the tail.The story takes place in the mid 19th century, in the south, twenty years before the Civil War. At the time the novel originated, it illustrated the society in which Twain lived. Whether correct or incorrect, Twain's language and content mirrored society's treatment towards Africans at the time. The book exposes American history torn by prejudice, violence, and ignorance. The plot revolves around a young boy named Huck, who is the outcast son of the town drunkard, and the
Because of his cultural upbringing, the boy starts out believing that slavery is part of the natural order. In 1995 the South Bay School Board, in San Jose, CA questioned if the book should remain on required reading lists. The school board finally agreed to remove the book from the districts required reading list. Banishing the novel ignores its truth and impedes on our First Amendment right. adventures he shares with his "colored" friend, Jim. I feel the action taken in this situation proved just. Huck is a white boy who befriends a "colored" boy, and helps him escape. The school district has allowed the choice to teach, but the novel must be taught sensitively. School officials selected "Huckleberry Finn'' for required reading because it was an American literary tradition. Many are uncomfortable with the use of the word "nigger" and they have every right to be. The coalition argued that the book's racial epithet and negative stereotypes eroded their children's self-esteem and affects their school performance. The coalition urged that the book be removed from required reading lists or replaced with an alternate version that deletes racially offensive language (#2). "Huckleberry Finn" reflects a time when America approved of slavery. I agree with the American Library Association, in that "the way to fight an idea that is wrong, one that hurts people, is not to suppress it and try to make it go away, but to shine the light of truth on it, and show people it is wrong"(#3). Faculty also agreed that the content was a potential starting point for discussing racism.
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Acceptance Essays
