Racism in Huck Finn

The use of the word “nigger,” a racially charged epithet in the contemporary era, is present more than 200 times in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn adding to the racial bearing of the novel. To witness such a negative word in literature regardless of it being placed in context or out of context, that single word is bound to place some racial tension within a person of African-American descent reading it. This view obviously deprecates the view of the African-American as an uncultured race without any reason, and elevates the racist attitude of the novel. Though the language used and the images of African Americans present within in the novel is reflective of 19th century society, one reading this novel in the contemporary era would find the text very demeaning if not read or taught in its context. In addition, Jim is shown to be very dull and dense in chapter fourteen when the debate about language is brought forth when Jim disagrees with the fact that foreign language need be in existence. For example, when Jim is introduced, he is not introduce as Jim but as “Ms. Even the dialect spoken by Jim that was rendered by Twain is reflective of a racist attitude since it does not possess a civilized and respectable tone as seen in the dialogue between the white characters.

The racist attitudes in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are prevalent throughout the novel, and can be seen in the language and the depiction of African-Americans. ” So a child of African-American descent reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn today would take that notion lightly or go as far as to telling his parents of what he read. The use of the word “nigger” is common throughout the entire novel, and elevates the racist attitude present within the novel.

Yet one could argue that these depictions and language needs to be put into context with the era the novel was written when the word “nigger” was a common term and African-American slaves were mirror images of what Twain renders. “magic with,” a notion that states Jim is without reason and therefore must turn to superstition.