I am among the scholars who say Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is racist, but unlike most scholars I believe Twain’s racial text is appropriate due to the time period in which it takes place in. Huck Finn is filled with racial slurs and situations which dehumanize blacks, but I don’t believe it is Twain’s intention to insult African Americans. Jane Smiley condemns the book as “racist trash,” and although I agree the book is racist, I don’t view Huck Finn as “trash.” The racial context of the book can be both aid and damage a student’s perspective on race. Huck Finn can aid a student’s racial tolerance if presented appropriately by a skilled teacher. (Use Peaches Henry evidence to support last statement.)
After reading Huckleberry Finn, I've concluded that it is a racist book. Mark Twian floods the book with racial slurs and dehuminizing situations for blacks, but I believe the book's overall message is one of racial truth and the morals sorrounding it. many scholars such as Jane Smiley, give us evidence to support they're argument that Huck Finn is a racist text and should not be considered a great American novel, but writers like Peaches Henry provide several counter arguments which suggest that Huck Finn's inclusion of racism isn't intended to be racist and can have educational and moral value.
(This is all I have so far, I spent most of my time orgasnizing my thoughts and laying out my body paragraphs.) Sorry for the small amount of content, if you want to get a better idea of what I want to say, I have 2 and a half pages worth of notes/ thesis development. I hand wrote everything and don't have enough time to post all of it, ask if you'd like to see it. Thanks.
About Me
- Kappa1907
- My name is Edgar, I'm 19. I go to Santa Rosa Jc and I love to play soccer and keep busy.
2 comments:
It seems like you have a great start!
Claim - The book is racist but still appropriate for school
Evidence - Racial Slurrs, dehumanization, racial tolerance
Reasoning -racial and heated discussions are improtant for racial tolerance
Coutner Claims - Peaches Henry
Other Evidence - Stowe = stereotypes
Other Coutner calims- You could bring in Idolatry as a view point for why it shouldn't be read in classrooms.
I think you have a great strat it seem like these two pararaphs might be your intro and conculsion. Good luck your ideas seem to be well mapped out!
ps. check the word they're in the sencond paragrah (in the middle)... i think it should be their
:)
I like your claim that "Huck Finn can aid a student’s racial tolerance if presented appropriately by a skilled teacher."
Well presented evidence of the argument between Smiley and Henry about the racism and the context it's in.
I have a rough idea where you'll go with this essay, and hope you'll continue with presenting the evidence from different authors/critics.
There is a little confusion on my part about the claims/counter-claims in the second paragraph, but I'm sure you'll sort them all out in the final essay.
Maybe include some evidence about where there's racism obviously pointed out in the book, and in what situations it can be made awkward in the present??
7. I'm interested in reading the final product.
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