Anti-racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 赵千

Huck and Jim

Reevaluation of Blacks It is mainly related to Huck’s ever-increasing understanding about the black slave, Jim. At the beginning he despises and tricks Jim like any other white people. Then he realizes gradually Jim is also a man with emotions and feelings like himself and begins to respect him for his honesty and sincerity. At this point, white people should learn to reevaluate blacks.

Huck ever describes “He （ Jim ） was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home before in his life; I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their’n.” (chapter 23) “ I’d see him (Jim) standing my watch on top of his’n, stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and always call me honey, and pet me, and do everything he could think of for me and how good he always was.” (chapter 31) “ ……I was glad it was according to my judgment of him, too; because I thought he had a good heart in him and was a good man……” (chapter 42)

Disclosing Social Oppression In the novel blacks are controlled by white people not only physically but also spiritually. They are usually portrayed as timid, obedient, illiterate and superstitious. It doesn’t mean that blacks are inferior to white people but shows the humble living condition of blacks. It is the result of long-term oppression.

“Afterwards Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance, and rode him all over the State……Niggers would come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country.” (chapter 2) “And behind the woman comes a little nigger girl and two little nigger boys, without anything on but tow-linen shirts, and they hung onto their mother’s gown, and peeped out from behind her at me (Huck), bashful, the way they always do.” (chapter 32) “Jim he couldn’t see no sense in the most of it, but he allowed we was white folks and knowed better than him; so he was satisfied, and said he would do it all just as Tom said.” (chapter 36)

Satire on Prejudices against Blacks In the novel blacks are despised by white people, even though they are friendly, kind-hearted, faithful and honest like Jim. They are looked on not as human beings, but as goods or property without emotions and soul. Admittedly, Twain’s acute and sharp depiction is a powerful attack on such prejudices.

Huck’s drunkard father ever complains “There was a free nigger there, from Ohio; a mu-latter most as white as a white man……they said he was a p’fessor in a college, and could talk all kinds of language, and knowed everything.……I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?—that’s what I want to know.” (chapter 6) The Duke ever asks the King “……and do you reckon a nigger can run across money and not borrow some of it?” (chapter 26) When Huck and Aunt Sally talk about the boat explosion, Aunt Sally says “Good gracious! Anybody hurt?” Then Huck says “No’m. Killed a nigger.” Aunt Sally answers “Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt.” (chapter 32)

Pursuit of Freedom The journey of Huck and Jim on the raft down Mississippi River is in fact a process of pursuing freedom. At chapter 8 of the novel Jim has told he has a dream. As the plot develops, it’s known that the dream is freedom, not only his own freedom but also his family’s freedom. It is the dream that makes Jim begins his rough journey at the risk of his life. The dream is everything for him and also for all blacks.

Huck ever asks Jim “What did you do with the ten cents, Jim?” Jim answers “Well, I’uz gwynw to spen’ it, but I had a dream, en de dream tole me to give it to a nigger name’ Balum……But he’s lucky, dey say, en I see I warn’t lucky. De dream say let Balum inves’ de ten cents en he’d make a raise for me.” (chapter 8) “Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom.” and “……the first thing he would do when he got to a free State he would go to saving up money and never spend a single cent, and when he got enough he would buy his wife……and then they would both work to buy the two children, and if their master wouldn’t sell them, they’d get an Ab’litionist to go and steal them.” (chapter 16)

Conclusion In the novel Mark Twain reveals many realistic problems. Firstly, white people should learn to reevaluate themselves and blacks. Besides, he discloses social oppression especially through the portrait of blacks’ common features. In addition, he satirizes the prejudices against blacks. Finally, he advocate blacks’ pursuit of freedom. Therefore, there is no doubt that the novel is against racism rather than the contrary.

Thank you for your attention!