The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain has always been a controversial novel. This controversy results from its frequent usage of the “n-word” and its racist undertones. Although many people may think that this novel should be banned in schools due to its racially insensitive content, I believe that this novel should not be banned in schools because it accurately portrays the society at the time the novel was written, teaches a powerful lesson on the history of slavery, and shows the value of true friendship.
Despite the fact that this novel may seem offensive in some ways, it should not be banned in schools because it is not meant to offend, but merely to portray the society of the 19th century. The late 1800s in America was a time in which African Americans were subjected to slavery and hardly viewed as equal citizens. Twain writes the novel to make a statement about the situation for African Americans as slaves. Early in the novel, Twain immediately
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But the education of students on the topic of slavery would not be possible if this novel were banned from schools. Characters in the novel do not question whether slavery is immoral or cruel because they do not see African Americans as equal to whites. Although some people may see this situation as uncomfortable for students to read about in school, it is history and sometimes history is uncomfortable. The novel’s main character, Huckleberry Finn, also known as Huck, even feels “low-down and ornery” (Twain 11) for refusing to turn Jim, a runaway slave whom he later befriends. During the time period of slavery, all people were required to turn in slaves who had escaped or were trying to escape. For Huck to not turn a runaway slave in, was he taking a stand against slavery? This novel teaches students about the experiences of African Americans when slavery still