There is a major argument among literary critics whether The Adventures of
             Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is or is not a racist novel. The question
             focuses on the depiction of Jim, the black slave, and the way he is treated
             by Huck and other characters. The use of the word "nigger" is also a point
             raised by some critics, who feel that Twain uses the word too often and too
             loosely. Mark Twain never presents Jim in a negative light. He does not
             show Jim as a drunkard, as a mean person, or as a cheat. This is in contrast
             to the way Huck's (white) father is depicted, whom Twain describes using all
             of the above characterizations and more. The reader views Jim as a good
             friend - a man devoted to his family and loyal to his companions.
             Jim is, however, very naive and superstitious. Some critics say that Twain
             is implying that all blacks have these qualities. When Jim turns to his
             magic hairball for answers about the future, we see that he does believe in
             some foolish things. But all the same, he is visited by both blacks and
             whites to use the hairball's powers. This type of naivete was abundant at
             the time and found amongst all races - the result of a lack of proper
             education. So, the depiction of Jim is not negative in the sense that Jim is
             stupid and inferior, and this aspect of the story is clearly not meant as a
             ...