Just in case you don’t know of the controversy regarding Huckleberry Finn, here’s a brief snippet from The Washington Post:
Mark Twain wrote that “the difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter.” A new edition of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” will try to find out if that holds true by replacing the N-word with “slave” in an effort not to offend readers.
A fair warning – the following is probably the most nuanced opinion I’ve had ever. It’s like the issue of abortion. I see both sides of the argument and feel uncomfortable no matter which side I support.
Normally, I’m one always on the “never censor” bandwagon and I’m quick to defend free speech.
Still, some interesting issues at play here as I talk myself through which side I want to support:
• The “N-Word” still exists. This isn’t an effort to try to become time-sensitive. It’s unfortunate, but the word is said millions of times a day.
• Does the story really change if the “N-Word” is replaced by “slave?” If the ending or storyline was changed, I would definitely be against it. But changing one word to another doesn’t really impact the story, does it? I’m not sure you’ll see a 15-year-old boy 20 years from now utter the following: “Damn, I wish the ‘N-Word’ was in this story like it was back in the day.”
• Having been in class with a handful of black students while reading this at Sumner Academy, I do not recall one single time of them being offended. Not trying to sound like a white person who tries to avoid race, but I don’t remember one black classmate freaking out over that word being used. It’s an offensive word, but someone with common sense can probably realize it’s historical content of it.
• Being a history major in college, I’ve always been a believer that history should be preserved. I hate the fact that Germany, the country where most of my family came from, avoids discussing Hitler and has banned “Mein Kampf.”
• I’m white and therefore I hate claiming what’s offensive to blacks, Mexicans and other races. One of the reasons why I never got into the debate about Native American sports mascots is I can’t put myself in the shoes of tribe. Is it respect, or disrespect? As a white male, I will never know and understand how and why a Native American supports those mascots or resents them.
• This sets up a bad precedent, doesn’t it?
I just don’t know. You should probably put me in the “against column,” but I see the other side to it and this story should not be quickly dismissed as being about “political correctness.”
I hate sounding like the guilty white liberal type, but that’s probably really close.
