Racism in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

There has been an uprising in the African-American community due to the Confederates waving the Confederate flag in African-American neighborhoods. Unlike the past, African-Americans now have gained civil rights; therefore, causing a riot and fighting theseConfederates. The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain, is set before the Civil War and in the Mississippi River. To elaborate on the issue, Black oppression was high, slavery existed, and Blacks had no rights. The novel could be interpreted differently if it is read in different decades, by different individuals.

Northern Whites had different opinions from Southern Whites regarding slavery. Southerners believed that slavery could not be abolished. On the other hand, most Northerners believed that African-Americans deserved their freedom.

The novel revolves around racism. The constant use of the word “nigger” reverberates throughout the novel. Before the Civil War, this word was still acceptable to describe African-American slaves. Slave owners would use this word to oppress the slaves, and to make sure that their social status stands.

Now that America is believed and advertised to be “free of racism,” the use of this word is unacceptable; although still being said as an offensive word, it is considered to be racist. The word is rarely used in the United States now compared to how much it was used then. Americans are much more careful not to use this word: they are careful not to start a revolt against African-Americans.

In Chapter Six, Pap protests that “When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed out.

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I says I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” As a Southerner, he opposes the black civil rights and believes they are belongings. Other Southerners, and even confederates today, would agree with Pap. Everyone believed this was the only purpose of African-Americans. In modern times, vending any human is now considered illegal. A citizen living in modern times would believe human trafficking would be unjust. In chapter eight, Jim explains to Huck Finn why he left Miss Watson. He explained that he heard Miss Watson was going to sell him for “eight hund’d dollars,” although Miss Watson promised Jim that she would never sell him. Jim is considered committing a crime due to the fact that every slave was worth money. Running away meant that he is useless, and the money paid for him is wasted.

Furthermore, they believe that slaves do not deserve any freedom. Even though he lived a life away from civilization, he is still considered “living free.” A Southern man before the civil war would consider this act revolting. A modern American would confess that if they were in that situation, they would do the same.

Mentioned earlier, the Confederate flag is a threat to bring racism back to the open. Although it never left, this is a revolt against African-Americans. If this were in Twain’s novel, Most would have supported to have these flags posted and hung on walls, stores, boats, etc. According to abc news, majority of Americans believe that the Confederate flag should be removed. Thus, proving that Americans today would find the events in Huck Finn’s adventures to be absurd. The Confederate flag is also being banned from being sold in a few stores such as Walmart.

Although states such as South Carolina and Alabama have removed the Confederate flag from their statehouses, individuals still continue to wave this flag. These Confederates would support the hunt for Jim in the novel. They have the same mindset as the Southerners in the novel. Although in modern times, Confederates do not have state support. In the novel, slavery, auctioning, and selling of African-Americans is very well supported in Mississippi. It was legal to sell African-Americans. Southerners had the power: an ongoing repetition of history.

White men are superior and African-Americans are inferior. A setback for African-Americans were due to their lack of literacy. They were discouraged and not permitted to attend school. African-Americans did not have power then, but the Civil War changed all of this. Racism has always loomed over America. No matter how the government advertises that America is “racism-free.” The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicts the extreme racism that occurred before the Civil War.

Racism in this novel could be either supported or opposed: the choice is up to the eye of the beholder. Before the Civil War, anyone who was able to read Huck Finn’s adventures would support the selling, oppressing, and use of the word “nigger.” They would oppose and hunt Jim due to his act of rebellion. In America today, most Americans would oppose to these malicious actions towards African-Americans. Although a few Confederates still support, the majority of citizens in the United States of America oppose Confederates’ prejudiced actions.