Although there has been an overwhelming amount of debates regarding the teaching of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in high school settings, students should still have the opportunity to experience this novel, even if additions or compromises need to be made, because of the story’s historical significance, underlying portrayal of African American dignity, and overall benefits engendered by Twain’s writing. Many argue that African Americans are undermined throughout the story, but the abundance of dignity underlying Jim’s character and the compromises that can be made in the classroom are often overlooked. The most controversial part of the book for many parents seems to be the fact that “it uses the ‘n’ word more than 200 times -- which they say is damaging to their children” (Beckett, Huck Finn’s Fate to Be Decided). Parents and students of African American descent and other ethnicities have …show more content…
What they weren’t able to see, however, is the fact that Twain portrayed one of the main characters, Jim, as an upstanding and respectable man which demanded more dignity and admiration for the African American people than what might have been interpreted from the outside. Many believe that Jim “is the moral center of the book, a man of courage and nobility, who risks his freedom -- risks his life -- for the sake of his friend Huck” (Is Huck Finn a Racist Book?). Not only Jim risking his freedom, but Jim’s actions throughout the entire story made his morals and good nature prevalent. These actions created a sense of dignity and respect for the African American people, which was not originally displayed due to the historical setting. Even if these underlying concepts are not transparent to students and parents that feel violated, there are many modifications or alternatives available to preserve the experience of reading this novel