Controversial literature should be read in classrooms in order to spark discussion among students and expose them to real life situations and problems that are prevalent in society. Undoubtedly, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a controversial book due to its use of the n-word and depiction of Jim. This controversy is exactly why students should read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Professor Neal A. Lester has a class on the much debated n-word “to self-reflect critically on how we all use language and the extent to which language is a reflection of our innermost thoughts” (Lester). Similarly, books with sensitive topics allow students to think about their place in society and reflect on their actions and thoughts of these topics. …show more content…
Due to this, high schoolers should read controversial books that prepare and inform them about real life situations. Growing up in China, I did not face racism or discrimination due to the fact that as a Chinese person, I was always part of the majority. Even in Cupertino, Asians make up the majority of the student body, and racism does not seem to be a problem that is discussed in our community. Because of I am so fortunate to live in these environments, I was never fully aware of the difficulties that certain races, especially black people, face in their everyday lives. Many people living in a sheltered environment do not realize the extent to which others suffer, as seen when CNN ran a poll about racism, with “49% blacks saying racism is a “very serious” problem, while only 18% of whites agreed” (Abdul-Jabbar). Only after reading articles and history books did I realize how the n-word is so deeply connected to ignorance and hatred from the American slave system, and how this pain is still alive today. Even though some students feel discomfort learning about sensitive issues, they cannot ignore