Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Essay 4 Q1
In Peaches Henry's critical essay involving the controversy on race, she came to the conclusion that although "...racial perspective present in Huckleberry Finn may never be satisfactorily explained for censors or scholars, the consideration of them may have a practical, positive bearing on the manner in which America approaches race in the coming century." In other words, she believes we are now in a time that allow us to look back on the hardships racism brought, but learn from those mistakes rather than let them influence our actions for the worst. I believe Henry has made an important point. Even though Mark Twain's arguable novel may not be the best book to teach to a class, if it is to be read, I think there are more positive aspects to the novel than there are negative. The book is racist, but in some ways it educates students about the period in time when African Americans were degraded and mistreated. However, reading about such conflicting times opens students' perspectives to teach them that these conducts were wrong and such mistreatments should never occur again. This ultimately brings them to focus on the discussions on racism that will enlighten them, and direct them to stray from racist actions and beliefs.
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7 comments:
You have some good points about Henry and racist actions. You might want to add if she is wanting it to be read in schools or she is just saying that if it is read, it would be a good teaching tool for teaching about that time.
You write very organized and structured, and offer good reasoning. What I thought might benefit your writing is adding some "they say I say"...some might say that reading about past racism is not necesary for todays youth to accept racial and cultural differences.
I agree with your post because it is true that although the novel has racist situations it is not leading us to be racist. You don't see any kids walking around calling each other by the n-word and then justifying it by saying Tom Sawyer said it. Mark Twain did not necessarily support the racism in the text, and if he did then it was not shown in the novel.
(To Alison)Basically, Peaches Henry thinks this book should not be banned. She is not promoting this book to be read in every classroom per se, just believes it should still be accessible to students and it would end up being a good teaching tool if it were to be taught in an english class.
I agree with some points everyone before me made. :)
It's a well organized response. But I disagree with jesse that you don't have enough they say in there.
I see plenty of what Peaches says, but I don't see much, if any, of what you have to say, once or twice you're agreeing with an important point peaches makes. I'm sure you have your own opinion on the subject.
I read Arac...and recomend it to others
I do think it would be better but I think one of the reasons that Huck Finn is so well known is because of its controversy. It would not be so famous if it was not racially controversial.
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