Huck Finn Deals with Racism
Though traces of racism still exist today between the Latino-Americans, the Muslim people and African Americans living presently, I have my doubts it was ever as bad as when we still had slaves, being the late 1800’s. One of the reason that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is being banned by many school curriculums is because it deals with racism; a topic that few educators want to delve into too deeply and often avoid. An example of racism is when even though it could possibly be a coincidence Jim went missing the same time Huck did, Jim is immediately the main suspect of the murder. By all means, it could have very well been Huck’s father (though we know it wasn’t but they sure don’t) since he so poorly mistreats and neglects his own son. He could have been in a drunken rage and Huck could have said something to piss him off enough to kill him. Even though we know this isn’t true, it is possible, but instead Jim is the automatic scape goat, and a bounty is placed on his head. (He did escape as well, causing an alternative motive for the bounty, but for a time they did think he did it).
Huck’s father is definitely the worst case I’ve ever encountered when it comes to supporting others, despite their skin color. Here’s a satisfactory quote on page 27;
“Oh, yes, this is a wonderful govment, wonderful. Why, looky here. There was a free nigger there from Ohio-a mulatter, most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain’t a man in that town that got as fine clothes as what he had…etc”
I can’t imagine why Huck’s father would really care about how the African Americans are being treated if he didn’t own a slave nor did he know of any personally that he knew he had power over. He certainly didn’t have any money, nor did he have a role in any highly respectable positions in his own government. I don’t see how he has the position to be in to complain when he’s too drunk himself to vote! Go figure…
