So the publisher of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has decided to take the offensive "n-word" out of the original text and publish new books with the word "slave" used as a replacement. I have mixed feelings about the issue because, although the word is offensive, it is also symbolic of a time in history that should not be forgotten. The reader of the book should understand that Huck's use of the word does not represent his personal feelings about black people. In fact, he has a father/son like relationship with a black man named Jim. His casual use of the word merely reflects the society that he lived in. It is common for children to use the words that adults use, even when they don't understand their meaning, or their power. When I read about Huck Finn as I child, I understood the situation and I knew who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. I do cringe when I read or hear that word, but I also cringe when I think that history is being rewritten and "dressed up" by its removal. Yes, Huck Finn is a fictional character, but Mark Twain wrote about the life that he knew. And racism was a part of that life.
A few weeks ago, on Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, I watched a documentary about the first two African American students to attend the University of Georgia. One of the students Charlayne Hunter-Gault told how she was taunted by other students and she used the "n-word" frequently when telling her story. Had she not used the word, she would not have given an accurate recounting of what had happened. I was not offended when she spoke the word—that word was a part of her experience and the experience of all black Americans who stood up for their rights and the rights of others. Though it is an ugly word, it played a role in making her the person she is today.
I do understand that we want to protect our children from offensive words. And perhaps, the new version of the classic story will make it more accessible for younger children. Personally, I am a lot more concerned about protecting children from the offensive people who continue to spread hate with their words.
Image retrieved from: (http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Huckleberry-Finn-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553210793)
1 comment:
I completely agree with your thoughts on this. If we sugarcoat the past, we are more likely to push it under the rug and let history repeat itself rather than learn from it.
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