When Twain wrote HF the word did not have the “ultimate insult” connotation it does today. It was at most mildly denigrating rather than something used to more or less justify any reaction up to and including murder. You can’t tell me the meaning and connotations of the word haven’t changed.
If they haven’t, why are you yourself so carefully avoiding typing it?
I agree. In a similar note, I remember when the word ‘sucks’, had really bad connatations. Now, it’s everywhere.
I said zip about "connotations". I said "meaning". Which has not changed at all. Yeah, there has been an onus put on it, but that changes not one thing about Twain's book.
The only people who get upset about Twain are the same ones who object to "niggardly". IOW, idiots.
"If they haven’t, why are you yourself so carefully avoiding typing it?"
What make you think I've "carefully avoided it". I've got no problem with typing "nigger". It's a perfectly valid English word.