Huckleberry Finn Synthesis Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird. Harry Potter. Catcher in the Rye. These are all exemplary novels that are challenged in school districts across the nation for their use of vulgar language, substance abuse, or “oculist behaviors” that may influence the decisions of the students who read the books (Admin). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of these challenged books because of its constant use of the N–word. With many adversaries in school districts across the country, publishers have begun selling “clean” versions of the critically acclaimed novel that replaces the N-word with slave. Although many would say that replacing some of the language in the book allows more students to read the novel comfortably, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should

Stephen Railton, professor at University of Virginia, also believes that the book should be left unedited form because without its language “his book had no traction” (Rawls). Bradley James, professor at the University of Oregon, also states that when the N-word is taken out “It’s not Huckleberry Finn anymore” and the book no longer has the traction like it does with the specific language (News). Although some parents are concerned that “to a black child it might be damaging. Also to a white child, or a Hispanic child, those words can be damaging,” this is not the case. Many children in schools today do not have the opportunity to speak about racism and slavery in a classroom setting. To rob them of the opportunity to understand the previous sins of America makes them more susceptible to victimize and discriminate against someone of another race. In fact, teaching Huck Finn shows students how not to treat others and morphs them into respectable members of their community who respect and show love towards others, even if they look or act