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Huckleberry Finn Argumentative Analysis

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The argument presented in the video is, when a high school choses to teach Mark Twain’s classic book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should it teach the original version containing the “N-word” or modern censored version in which the “N-word” has been replaced with slave. The debate is due to the awful history and the still negative weight the “N-word” carries. Many feel the ladder version should be used because it eliminates the uncomfortableness associated with discussing the issues of race. By choosing the censored version schools avoid the potential to hurt or offend students. Those that feel schools should use this versions believe the story remains unaffected and Twain’s message is still very apparent. However, many individuals believe …show more content…

Although he never told his views of the topic I felt you could sense he was against still using the original version in classrooms. During his introduction he briefly opened with the how schools now have an option for teaching a censored version of Twain’s classic. Then he went into a explaining how negative affects the “N-word” has on members for society, both then and currently. As he interviewed other individuals he accepted short explanations from people supporting the use of the modern version, but he seemed skeptical of anyone who defended the original and pressured them into longer more detailed explanations. My personal feelings on the issue of which version should be in classrooms, is Twain’s original. While I do agree the “N-word” needs to be removed from use in society’s every talk, Twain’s version is from the past. From a dark past, the novel came from an era that was pleaded with racial and class segregation, which breed hatred. When an individual reads the novel in a classroom they are not being asked to relive those feelings, just to be reminded of them for educational purpose. Huck and Jim were able to overcome racial differences in a time when tensions were among the highest in this country’s history. I think today’s society could benefit from looking at back this period and the characters in the story, as racial tensions seem to again be on

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