Andre's response to Why read the Book? by Paul Butler
Paul Butler, author of Why
Read the Book?, claims that the book Huckleberry
Finn by Mark Twain should not be read in schools because the inappropriate
language it contains and that language hurts students of color. He says that
the inappropriate language like “nigger” was harsh to him back when he was
young. Butler says that he had “white kids
going out of their way to say “Nigger Jim” and the teacher’s tortured
explanation that Twain’s “nigger” didn’t really mean nigger, or meant it
ironically, or historically, or symbolically” (Butler). The usage of the word
“nigger” caused Paul Butler the author a lot of pain in high school does to
these words and he feels like other students of colored feel the same way. And
kids should go to school to feel safe and this is why they should take the book
out of high school because it ruins this “safety” feeling of being in school.
After reading this from his viewpoint I have to agree with Paul Butler, I don’t
think the book should be read in schools. The book contains vulgar language,
which can make some students feel uncomfortable. A part that can be found
offensive is when Pap says, “I says to the people, why ain't this
nigger put up at auction” (Twain Ch 10). This quote can make students of
color feel bad or even upset that we are still reading this because “nigger”
really hurts them, also when they are referred to as “nigger” its seem like
they are a property and not a person since you can “put up at auction”. I
honestly see this book as a masterpiece because it’s a good read but this book
should not be studied in schools because it demoralizes the person. Before I
read this article I thought that this should be read in schools because
“nigger” is used different now a days but I never thought that some people
might take great offensive and feel like the security they should receive at
school is taken away.
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