The Use Of Such A Descriptive Word

The use of the word “nigger” in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has continually boiled hot water over the proverbial pot of controversy over again and again. The controversy word in Twain’s novel is a very obvious, simple but complex, and major element of this novel. He uses it to convey a sense of companionship as a major literary device. However the controversy seems to be of bigotry and ignorance of just the meaning of the word itself and not how it is used.

Ignorance is a starving buzzard circling the controversy of literature. “The crusade of [John] Wallace, who has described his nemesis as ‘the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written,’ is the extreme example of the animus that has coalesced around the novel.”(Styron) If Wallace and people like Wallace would have taken the time to actually sit down and read into the novel and possibly use their brain for analyzing instead of coming up with haphazard, imaginative creations of stupidity then there would be a strong lack of controversy surrounding this topic. Instead these bigots believe in the notion that everyone must be a hate driven racist if they use the word “nigger” in any context what so ever. David Bradley, a black man, African American, or Negro, whatever you want to call him, recognizes that in Twain’s Adventure novels the word “nigger” is used in two separate contexts. “When Huck said ‘nigger’, he meant Negro. When Tom said ‘nigger’, he meant liar.”(Bradley) Bradley understands the importance of analyzing both sides of the argument instead of pulling a Styron on everyone. The definition of the word “nigger” to Huck was clearly stated over and over throughout the novel to plainly mean “a black man”. It was never used by Huck towards Jim to mean “slave” or anything derogatory. Some bigots read or hear the word “nigger” and verbally or physically attack that person or work of literature, thus showing their immaturity and ignorance in not analyzing the context. The branching of this controversy of the word “nigger” in Huck Finn is sparked more by confusion, frustration, and the lack of a universal understood definition of the word. (Skoler)

In conclusion, the use of the word “nigger” at any time in history, present day, or future years is only offensive to people because Blacks were once slaves to Whitey. It has everything to do with context. If Huck were mad at Jim, and he called Jim a nigger then I would understand the willingness to take that word out of the book and frown upon it. However, I agree with this statement: “For bad or for good, “nigger” is thus destined to remain with us for many years to come – a reminder of the ironies and dilemmas, the tragedies and glories, of the American experience”.(Kennedy) Most Blacks I know would rather be called Black than African American. They see African American more offensive than Nigger or Black. They descended from generations of people shipped from Africa but are not directly from there. If the general population is going to refer to Black people as African Americans then I would prefer to be referred to as German Irish American. So they are really begging the question of a much larger issue than just simply taking a word out of a book. They are begging the question “What shall we properly call them?” The answer is simple- American.