With America being a melting pot of many varying cultures, different people are bound to
have conflicting views on racism in society; however, in Tom Sawyer’s time, racism was both
prevalent and accepted. Although some readers believe a forceful representation of
condemnation against racist attitudes should have been present in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
the truth is there is no need for an opposing point of view because racism was acceptable during
the time period of the book, the book accurately portrays the attitudes and treatment towards
Indians and African Americans, and the book is written from Twain and his friends’ own
experiences.
The acceptability of racism in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer seems to result from the
reputation of the minorities. “But I never see a nigger that wouldn't lie” (Twain 35). African
Americans were slaves, so automatically they were treated as lesser human beings because they
were viewed as “the help”. Indians had a reputation for crime, and Injun Joe certainly lived up to
the stereotype. “The Injun blood ain't in me for nothing. And now I've got you, and you got to …show more content…
“That's so - that murderin’ half-breed!” (Twain 52). Many people would unabashedly discriminate against other races and treat them as though they were not human beings, but there were some people that harbored respect for other races. “That's a mighty good nigger, Tom. He likes me, becuz I don't ever act as if I was above him. Sometime I've set right down and eat with him. But you needn't tell that. A body's got to do things when he's awful hungry he wouldn't want to do as a steady thing” (Twain 144). There were people that treated minorities with kindness, but it was not something that they were proud of. It would be very unlikely to find a white person in the south during that time period that would openly oppose
have conflicting views on racism in society; however, in Tom Sawyer’s time, racism was both
prevalent and accepted. Although some readers believe a forceful representation of
condemnation against racist attitudes should have been present in the Adventures of Tom Sawyer,
the truth is there is no need for an opposing point of view because racism was acceptable during
the time period of the book, the book accurately portrays the attitudes and treatment towards
Indians and African Americans, and the book is written from Twain and his friends’ own
experiences.
The acceptability of racism in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer seems to result from the
reputation of the minorities. “But I never see a nigger that wouldn't lie” (Twain 35). African
Americans were slaves, so automatically they were treated as lesser human beings because they
were viewed as “the help”. Indians had a reputation for crime, and Injun Joe certainly lived up to
the stereotype. “The Injun blood ain't in me for nothing. And now I've got you, and you got to …show more content…
“That's so - that murderin’ half-breed!” (Twain 52). Many people would unabashedly discriminate against other races and treat them as though they were not human beings, but there were some people that harbored respect for other races. “That's a mighty good nigger, Tom. He likes me, becuz I don't ever act as if I was above him. Sometime I've set right down and eat with him. But you needn't tell that. A body's got to do things when he's awful hungry he wouldn't want to do as a steady thing” (Twain 144). There were people that treated minorities with kindness, but it was not something that they were proud of. It would be very unlikely to find a white person in the south during that time period that would openly oppose