Asheville Society of Literature

In recent news, New South Publishing has decided to release an amended and edited version of the Mark Twain classics The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, to be released in a single volume. This story follows the news of the release of Twain’s autobiography, set to be published on the centennial of Twain’s death.  Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer were required reads for many students in the United States. However, in recent years the novel has been omitted from numerous public school curricula and in some cases libraries due to an unfortunate racial slur that most readers would find offensive. An example of this usage is that Huck’s friend and fellow escapee Jim is refered to as N____r Jim. Although this is most certainly a deplorable racial slur, the term was unfortunately a ubiquitous term at the time of publication and beyond referring to a person of African-American decent.  Also on the chopping block stands the menacing antagonist of Tom Sawyer, Injun Joe.  ”Injun” is a bastardized version of Indian, which in itself a misrepresentation of Native American. Regardless of the fact, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are considered by many as the epitome of American literature. But how to approach these sensitive racial slurs? Does one simply edit them out, or does it stay in memory regardless of absence in print? Read more »