# data[].attributes.body
I agree with Kendall that the n-word makes readers see how dehumanizing the word was. In order for the book to get across its purpose and lessons the n word needs to be use. Source F states, “For to expose a racist society for what it is, you have to show racists as they are, speaking as they would speak” “What a tragedy if a modern reader, deprived of the context the word provides, were to conclude that 'Slave Jim' was the equal of 'N—— Jim.'” (Source D). Slave Jim does not have the same meaning as n-word Jim. Anyone can be a slave and Jim was trying to run from being a slave but even if he is “free” he is still seen in this society as a blank. -Carrie

# data[].attributes.body
yes i totally agree with grace. people still use the word derogatorily towards black people and they need to learn and be educated on what it actually means. -cate

# data[].attributes.body
I do and don’t agree with Josette. I feel that people overreacted about the use of the word in the book. It’s not something to react over. It has historical use its not as if they are throwing it around in the book just because they can it because it has meaning. So people taking it out of the book are overreacting.-Muriel

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with you Ella. We need to learn from the past so that we do not repeat it in the future and I do not think that people get that because they are just not that educated. In addition, just skipping the lesson on where people educate others about the word is like putting a bandage on it which does not help.-Christina

# data[].attributes.body
Books are supposed to make you reflect and think, and Huck Finn does that with the use of racism in his books. His details reflected the times and we shouldn’t block out the bad parts of history. -Ella

# data[].attributes.body
Right, I agree with Kendall. History should not be erased, and erasure of that word should not occur -cate

# data[].attributes.body
-Cate ^^^

# data[].attributes.body
Yes I agree with Mia. “Great books -- or any work of art -- require that the reader meet the author half-way. Huck Finn is a serious literary work. It is not a children's adventure book, nor a Rockwellian portrait. As intended, it is a scathing indictment against slavery, hypocrisy, gender roles (sure, why not), and class. These books -- and others like them -- should not be retrofitted to make modern readers comfortable. Modern readers are already too comfortable. Lazy, even. If the word ‘n——’ keeps one from reading Huck Finn, then one lacks the critical skills to appreciate all the book has to offer” (Source D).This scholar in particular is saying that refusing to read Huck Finn is insulting to Twain because you are denouncing his use of satire and criticism in the book as well.

# data[].attributes.body
I agree. In order to learn from the past, we need to learn about how it was used in the past. Source A states, “Facing that history in all its offensiveness is crucial to understanding it and moving past it, and literature is uniquely positioned to help us do that.” -Ella

# data[].attributes.body
_Carrie ^^

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with molly because the book would not be accurate because that is the language and that is how they refereed to slaves as. “The language depicts America's past, Railton said, and the revised book was not being true to the period in which Twain was writing” (Source A).

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with Josette. Not educating ourselves is ignorant. Avoiding problems like these makes the word powerful. In order for history to not repeat itself, we need to take the time to acknowledge the past. -Ella

# data[].attributes.body
I absolutely agree with Josette. That teacher should have defiantly taken that opportunity to teach a lesson. “[Black senior at Central High School Princess Gabriel] recalls reading only a handful of books that featured
nonwhite perspectives — titles such as ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘Huckleberry Finn’ come to mind. But even when
those novels featured people of color, she realized, the books were often written by white authors who failed to portray the
Black characters with depth and thoughtfulness.... ‘It made me realize how important representation in the classroom is,”
said Gabriel, who is Black and a senior at Central York High School’” (Source H). So while books like ‘Huckleberry Finn’
should not be the only representation of BIPOC characters, it is important that they stay in the curriculum to show
differing perspectives and experiences.  —Sarah

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with Josette about white washing history. It for sure makes a lot of sense. “The word ‘n——’ should sting. It's part of the bloodied soil of America, yet another legacy of slavery still with us a hundred-plus years after the fact” (Source D). White people are so fragile and hate to admit they are in the wrong because of generations of white superiority in the workplace and in the economic hierarchy; they don’t want to lose that feeling of never being in the wrong instead of persecuting the “wrong.” It is ignorant for white people to want to remove the n-word, they need to understand their history and admit to their ancestors owning enslaved people. What they need to do is learn and educate themselves on how to be a better ally to the black community and use their white privilege to educate others. - Cate

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with Josette. The teacher should of taught about the history and importance of the nword rather than just skipping over the whole book it general. The book could of taught the nword. -Carrie

# data[].attributes.body
The n-word should definitely not be said out loud. The teachers who were saying it out loud were just saying it to say it. They didn’t educate themselves or others on the n-word, because if they were, they wouldn’t have said it. A word can still be powerful by explaining its origins, we don’t need to say it out loud to get that effect. -Ella

# data[].attributes.body
-Cate ^^

# data[].attributes.body
I totally agree with Grace L. I definitely think it’s unfair of white students and teachers to say it aloud. I think that the word should stay in the text, but not read aloud. I agree with Josette as well.

# data[].attributes.body
Ya I definitely agree grace. It’s relevant in books but you don’t need to read it out loud. It’s a curse word just like any other curse word you skip over it but understand its relevance.-Muriel

# data[].attributes.body
I think if you replace the word with slave, it takes away from the brutality slaves went through. This quote says, “[by replacing the N-word] weakens the crushing, dehumanizing institutional forces against the character, and minimizes Huck's enlightenment” (Source D). I think that many people maybe are not educated on how the N-word is a very serious word and shows the pain that these slaves went through, which is why its important its kept in Huck Finn. But its important to include that if you are narrating the novel and are not African American, don’t say the word. It’s also important to include that I’m not African American so I don’t know if I can really decide as I cant relate to the fact their ancestors were brutally hurt, but I feel and hurt for them, but I cannot understand that pain as my ancestors were not slaves. -kendall

# data[].attributes.body
To also add on to Molly, the book shows how people can realize mistakes of themselves and others and shows how you can learn and grow so I think if the book was taught properly, it would be easy to learn how to grow -maeve

# data[].attributes.body
Huckleberry Finn was banned because the use of the n-word made students and teachers feel uncomfortable. One student said, “Mr. Woolman, I can’t sit through any more clases with everyone saying the n-word” (Source C). This quote shows how horrible some students felt after reading and hearing the word. I do believe these complaints are valid because the word is so hateful. However, I do not believe the book should be banned or censored because of its importance to learning American history and understanding the oppression black people went through. -Mia

# data[].attributes.body
To add to Josette’s first comment, I agree. The purpose of including the n-word is to educate others. Students should know the meaning before they can understand how including the word in the novel is educational. It can make everyone more comfortable, but I don’t think everyone should be completely comfortable. The n-word is a very degrading insult. If anyone is comfortable hearing or saying it, then they are the problem. -Molly H

# data[].attributes.body
i think that white washing history is way to common and it is just to make white people more comfortable but we need to realize that our ancestors were bad people and we can’t just ignore it. i think that is what happening if we remove the word
- josette

# data[].attributes.body
I also agree with Cate with the fact that you can’t erase history like that because then people will not learn about it then there’s a bigger chance of it happening again because people weren’t learning about the mistakes their ancestors made -maeve

# data[].attributes.body
i agree josette. It appeared that many students were not reacting to the word correctly, as they were laughing which is absurd to act like that. -kendall

# data[].attributes.body
I agree with Cate when the girl had to say “Mr Woolman, I can’t sit through any more classes with everyone using the N-Word” I think that is when it becomes such a big issue when people are being personally affected by the use of the word by their pupils -maeve

# data[].attributes.body
I think the problem is that so many students don’t actually understand the history and meaning behind it. I think that the teaching should begin with an explanation and simple rules regarding it. This can help make everyone more comfortable
-josette

# data[].attributes.body
I read that the book was removed from curriculum because a few African American students were uncomfortable with the fact that white students were saying the word or possibly reacting to the word. “A quiet girl, the middle of three African-American sisters to come through my classroom, started crying, really crying. Guessing why she was so upset, I had her step into the hall and talk to me” (Source C). I agree with cate and I am not African American so I’m not sure I have too much of a say in which the word should be used. I just think some of the students should not be saying the word in class if they are white. -Kendall

# data[].attributes.body
Don't forget to sign your name for credit -Ms. Joiner