[Paleo Conservative]

For years, English teachers have been explaining away the obvious racism in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." And for years, the book that perhaps best explains Americans' genetic predilection for hitting the road, only to later find themselves, has stayed near the top of many high school reading lists.

Twain accurately portrayed the racism of his charcters in order to mock them.

[conejo99]

Generally I agree with these points, however the part of the novel where Jim allows Huck and Tom to carry out ridiculous antics while breaking out from the farm lock up are a bit demeaning. Clemens ridicules almost everyone by exaggerating their characteristics, but his exaggeration of Jim has Jim endangering his escape for reasons that no adult would permit. I can see how someone could take offense at this, but considering the intent of the novel and the insight into this period of history, it is a shame to drop the book.