Discrimination In Huckleberry Finn

Throughout the 19th century, many minorities were discriminated against. As shown in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Blacks felt inferior to whites. Jack says, “I allowed they was white folks and knowed better than me” (Twain, 250) showing that he felt less than the white man. Even though the 13th amendment required Blacks to be treated equally, there were many incidents where they were not. In 1863, the first Black regiment was formed. In Glory (Glory. Directed by Edward Zwick,1989) , it shows how these men were not treated with respect at all. Even Though the 13th amendment did not get passed until 1865, all Black men that offered to serve were promised their freedom in exchange. While serving however, they did not receive everything they were told they would. A large amount of men did not have shoes, nor did they have decent clothing. When Col. Robert Gould Shaw requested to have uniforms and shoes sent to his men, it was denied. After continuous attempts at getting the proper uniforms for his men, Col. Shaw had to personally go and speak to the man and get them himself. The men were considered “free” but still were not being treated the same as the white man. Glory may have been just …show more content…
In 1890, Homer Plessy, a 1/8th black man, was arrested for being sold a ticket to the white train car. Homer, just like you and me, did not look black. His black heritage when generations back. Feeling discriminated against and treated unequal, he decide this was something for the court. After taking this case to the Supreme Court, he was jailed. The popularity of this case enraged many white, and black Americans. Six years after the Homer Plessy case, it was ruled that all public facilities were to be “separate but equal.” As a result, the South became more segregated, helping many places, and facilities treat the Blacks unequal to the whites(Bagwell,