Should Huckleberry Finn be banned from high school curriculum? There has been and, most likely, always will be much controversy over The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn being taught in high schools all over America. This book has been under pressure ever since it was published in 1885. To some individuals, the novel is considered one of the best enduring American classics that we have today that is a very important part of our history, and to others it is thought of as a worthless piece of racist trash that only educates children that cheating, lying, stereotyping/discriminating, incorrect grammar and foul language are acceptable behaviors in society. Many people believe that the degrading and disturbing term “nigger” is used unnecessarily and superfluously throughout the novel while others say that it only brings to light the punitive reality of our history.
However, many southern states found ways around the laws to disenfranchise the black populations. They did this by introducing a ‘Grandfather Clause’, which is that only people whose grandfather voted, gave them the ability to vote. Also literacy test was another method used, which in most ways wasn’t made fairly and even well educated people were disenfranchised and not allowed to vote. However, in 1946 President Truman established The President’s Committee on ‘Civil rights’, producing a report examining the experiences of racial minorities in America. The report was called ‘To Secure These Rights’, this report highlighted the problems facing African Americans and proposed radical changes to make American society better.
o You thoughts/analysis/commentary is essential. This is the part of the essay where you show what you know and can infer and decipher from the text. ▪ Example: Ironically, Clarisse is considered “anti- social” by the school system because she is different from the other children. Schools should be teaching the children individuality and freethinking, but in this society that is deplorable and completely unacceptable. Bradbury is sure to include this criticism to emphasize the destruction that an oppressive society has on the children.
Many people think that Twain is condoning slavery. On the contrary, Twain is actually showing the evils of slavery through this novel. There are things one must consider before categorizing this work as a racist novel. One must consider the novel’s time period and culture, the friendship that Jim and Huck share, and Huck’s view of slavery before assuming that this is a racist novel. The question of whether or not this novel should be taught in schools depends on the age of the group, how well they have been educated about the subject, and who is teaching them.
For example, throughout the book, “Huck realizes how he is treating Jim. He’s never been taught that it was wrong” (Culture Clash, Part 1). In the 1830s some people were not even aware of the slavery issue. Back then to white folks slavery was common; there was nothing against it according to them. In another instance, during the time Huck was being written, “blacks were exercising their rights”(Culture Clash, Part 1).
All US citizens had the right to vote, according to the federal law. But some racist states tried their hardest to stop black Americans from voting. They did this by making black people sit a hard literacy test, which was highly unlikely they will pass. This was simply because their education was of a poor quality due to their school being given very little in comparison to the white schools. They also just threatened them not to vote, which was successful because it frightened them away.
Her father tried to get her into a white school, which was only seven blocks away, but the principle of the school refused to allow her to enroll. Brown went to the head of Topeka’s NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and asked for his help. The NAACP was all eager to help the Browns in their case against the school because they wanted to take on segregation in schools for quite some time. The case was described as, “the right plaintiff at the right time.” By 1951, with other black parents joining the cause, the NAACP pushed for an injunction to end segregation in Topeka’s public schools. When the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas heard their case, the NAACP argued that segregated schools gave the message to black children that they weren’t equal, and naturally inadequate.
Yet I believe that this book, “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier, should be kept in schools to be read by teenagers. Many people believe that this book should be banned for the fact that it talks about bullying and violence. In a couple parts of the story, Jerry is beaten up. There are also multiple parts where the Vigils or Janza bully a kid. But that isn’t so bad that we should ban it.
In the case of the black community, they were often discriminated against just because of the color of their skin, this showed the racism present during the time. Likewise, with Aunt Alexandra, when she called the Cunninghams trash because of their low place in the social hierarchy in the town. Both of these examples showed just how much prejudice there was during the 1930’s. Furthermore, there were the foolish rumors of Boo Radley circulating around the town, this symbolized the pettiness and the amount the town judged others based on their differences. Along with the fact that Atticus shot the infected Mad dog, Tim Johnson, which symbolized the death of the town’s madness.
Adolf Hitler did not plan genocide for the Jews but wished instead to move them out of Europe” (Cohen- Almagor, 2008, 216). When Holocaust deniers enter the classroom as educators, students are indoctrinated with false history thus creating a prejudice and bigoted generation who will continue to preach hate. Rather, if students learn about the attempted annihilation of European Jewry, it allows them to appreciate and understand where racism can lead if left unchecked. Without a sensitive and unique Holocaust education, denial might be the only interpretation of history presented to students, thus propagating a hateful and racist society. History’s most extreme example of anti- Semitism, the Holocaust, was the state sponsored bureaucratic systematic persecution and annihilation of