Getting away from racismMany say it's a classic, that it's the root of all American literature. Others call it racist and inappropriate for their child. Such connotations of Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn illustrate the current controversy: whether or not schools should ban the book. The racial stereotypes present in the novel as well as the constant use of the "n" word have caused critics and parents to question its morality. Should students be exposed to the truths of the Old South? The way many of our grandparents thought and acted? To move forward, we must learn from our past and read Twain's “masterpiece” between the lines, not word for word. Huck's "purely American" (Will 92) voice tells a story full of important lessons and deserves to be heard just as much as the voice of Scout or Nick Carraway. Throughout the novel, Twain perfects the old southern Missouri dialect and maintains Huck's vocal standard of the time. He used a non-romantic approach and believed that: “simple American speech, stupid American demotic, was a sufficiently flexible and rich instrument for major moral literature” (Gopnik 1). The crude vernacular used by Twain accurately describes a time of injustice and aggression towards black people, making the novel appear "racist" through racist slurs and comments. Every year we learn more about white aggression, slavery, the civil rights movement and much more. We read textbooks and watch videos about our horrible past, but we don't really know what happened. Thanks to literature, we can deepen it. Twain allows us to experience the old south with Huck and hear his inner thoughts which matched those of many white people at the time. Twain uses a colloquial tone to grab our attention...... middle of paper ......e to "launch into a lively and risky exchange about race and the complexities that arise from it" (Henry 379) . So, at the right age and with the right teacher, a student can benefit from reading history and expand their knowledge about racism in the Old South. The issues present in the story are not comparable to its great qualities. Freedom, the theme of Huckleberry Finn, is purely American. When students reach a mature age, they should embark on the adventures of Huckleberry Finn and learn about racism in a practical way. Going down the river with Huck and Jim can spark important discussions about the novel, the prejudices and poor humility that were present years ago. We cannot forget our past and must move forward to rid the world of all prejudices. Huckleberry Finn lets us take the journey with Huck, laughing and thinking a little as we float..