Huckleberry Finn

Any Book Worth Banning is a Book Worth Reading

There has long been a debate over whether certain pieces of literature or other widely viewed material should be censored from the public of America and as parents, it is important for you to know what information your child receives, especially in the learning environment of a classroom. In order for something to be censored, a single group of people must decide if said piece of literary should not be shown to millions of Americans, as if there decision should dictate what we decide to open our eyes and ears to. Although most books are banned due to racism, offensiveness towards a religion, or a vulgar story line, why shouldn’t we educate ourselves with the “worst” our society has to offer? After all, the world isn’t always as perfect as we would like it to be. Censorship can be defined as “the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society” (“What is Censorship?” 1). Censorship can also be defined as “the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are offensive” (“American Civil Liberties Union” 1) and when you let one group of people decide what millions of people should do, it raises quite the uproar.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is challenged due to its vulgar use of language and the actions of the white characters toward the African American characters in the book. What some people find most offensive about this story is the language Huck Finn uses. In the story, Huck often refers to Jim as a "nigger," which some groups find unnecessary and reprehensible. In the minds of administrators and teachers, there is an easy solution by using less-controversial books. John Wallace, a school superintendent, writes, "Pejorative terms should not be granted any legitimacy by their use in the classroom under the guise of teaching books of great literary merit, nor for any other reason" (18). Why are we afraid of these "pejorative terms," instead of explaining to students what...