Racism is not simply words on paper, but the intent behind them. Twain's intent is not to put black people down or represent them in a negative light, but to use the bitter truth to show the sheer ignorance of the time. The most apparent controversial character in Huckleberry Finn is that of slave Jim. Jim is never depicted as a bad person, especially not when compared to Huck's lying, violent, drunkard, father. Most would find Jim to be a loyal, selfless friend and concerned father. Twain deliberately makes his readers like Jim, who happens to be a black man, while showing many of the whi

Another criticism made against Huck Finn is the way Jim is treated by the white folk around him. At various points throughout the book, Jim is being locked up and chained, made to be the butt of Tom Sawyer's cruel pranks and basically being treated like an untamed beast. Again, this is because the book takes place in a time when black people were thought to be less than human and treated accordingly. However, not all people treated Jim badly. Huck considered Jim to be a friend. He set aside society's preconceived ideas about black people and accepts Jim as an equal. When on the river, it is obvious that Huck and Jim enjoy each other's friendship and their ultimate freedom allows them to share things that makes the readers see their true colors. Twain tries to portray Jim as a father figure to Huck, trying to protect him and look out for him at all times. Whether friend or father, Huck realizes that Jim has feelings and value as a person and decides to risk "going to hell" to save Jim from being sent back to slavery.

People who accuse Twain of being racist due to his choice of words and scenarios are probably afraid of racism or have been hurt by it. They don't want to see it used or even referred to in any context. What these people must realize is that it is this kind of a book that can educate people of equality, not just among

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