Should Huckleberry Finn Be Banned In American High Schools

One of the most controversial book in American history is Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The main reason the book is controversial is because of Twain’s use of racism throughout the book. Also, the use of the “n” word to describe black people, makes the book controversial. This book has been in discussion of being banned in American high schools for many years. Many people want to and have banned the book in American high schools. Others encourage the teaching of the book in American high schools. The great American novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, should be taught in American high schools because the book teaches students history, helps them to understand racism and holds the students attention from start …show more content…
Some people think that the book should be banned because of the “n” word, they say the word is offensive. However, the word is part of history, if you banned the book it is like you are trying to banned history. The book shows how slavery was during that time period. Many white people, in that time period, used the “n” word to describe black people and slaves. Twain was trying to illustrate how blacks were being treated, how they were not respected as human beings. Although the book is fiction it shows the reality of the past. In the article “Rethinking Race in the Classroom” someone said, “There is a certain sector of the country that now feels racism is over, let’s move on.” If people feel that racism is over than why bother trying to banned? If it is over than why try to hid the fact that it ever happened? This book teaches students this actually happened and we can not change it, but they can change the future. Students are allowed to learn about slavery in history class, but they are not taught how it actually was for a slave in that time. History does not show the ignorance of many people during this time either. Huck Finn shows that, it shows how whites were many times as “stupid” as they thought slaves were. the book show how slaves had more moral values than whites. The book should be taught in American high school, because it shows the …show more content…
People are not able to prevent their children from hearing racist things. It is better that children and students are taught about racism and how bad it can be. Twain’s book, Huck Finn, is one of many good ways to teach students about racism. The book shows how racism is nothing good for people to experience, and it shows how people can deal with it. A major thing the book show is how the people that are racist are ignorant, like Pap. Twain depicts an accurate description of how racism was and is real for many black people. In a section of the article “About Education; Irrationality, Futility and Huk’s Censors” there is a part that states, “This shows the importance of understanding the period in which the book was written. It is important that people understand that the book was written in the 19th century and racism was still happening in that time. The teacher must teach the students about racism, then explain to them why and when the book was written. It was written to show the evils of racism and was written in the 19th century. “The novel is delivered simply as a vehicle for preaching the evils of racism.” stated the article “Teaching Tolerance”, but it is more than that. American high schools should teach the book to students,