Huckleberry Finn Racism Quotes

In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Jim is portrayed as a black slave who lives and works for Ms. Watson. Some critics may say that the novel encourages racism because Jim is depicted as a “coon” caricature who is stupid and lazy. However, as the novel progresses, the novel discourages racism because Jim is a father figure, believes all people are equal, opposite of a “coon” caricature, and Huck doesn’t turn in Jim, helping him escape multiple times.
The first example is that Jim is the opposite of a “coon” caricature. In Dr. Pilgrim's article, he states that “black men are lazy, stupid, dirty, and a worthless parasites”. However, Jim is the opposite of all this. This becomes eminent when Jim and Huck are

Pap also disapproves Huck’s education because no one in his family can read except for Huck. On the other hand, Jim treats Huck like his own son. While Huck and Jim were on the Ohio River, they were both separated from each other by the thick fog at night and when reunited Huck says it was all a dream. This happens in the quote, “What do dey stan’ for? I’s gwyne to tell you. When I got all wore out wid work, en wid de callin’ for you, en went to sleep, my heart wuz mos’ broke bekase you wuz los, en I didn’ k’yer no’ mo’ what become er me en de raf” (Twain 86). Jim’s reaction to the prank is that of a father-figure due to his love, concern, and the willingness to protect Huck just like what a real father would do to his own child. Jim teaches Huck a lesson and lectures him about the prank. This allows Huck to see that Jim is a kind and loving man, even though society sees Jim as a black slave who they can put to work each and every day. Huck then apologizes to Jim for what he did wrong, “ It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way.” (Twain 86). Huck is not only to willing to apologize to a person who

In Chapter 14, both Jim and Huck are on the raft talking about King Louis XVI and his dauphin after finding some books to read, “Why, Huck, doan’ de French people talk de same way we does?” (Twain 79). Jim is confused on why people don’t all speak the same after Huck says a Frenchman doesn’t speak the same as them. Jim finds this ridiculous and tells Huck that all cats talk the same and all cows talk the same. Jim then goes on to say, “Well, then, why ain’t it natural and right for a Frenchman to talk different from us? You answer me that” (Twain 80). This shows that Jim has a logical point and that just because Jim is black and Huck is white, they are no different from each other. Jim is subconsciously promoting equality among others and that Huck is his first and only