Webb, Chapter 6

I found this chapter to be the most interesting out all all that we have read so far. The issue of race in the classroom is something that should not be overlooked. Huckleberry Finn has caused several objections to the teaching of this novel. After reading this chapter, it seems that this book although over taught, when taught correctly, can make strong cultural connections. It all depends on how it is taught and who it is taught to. Also, through reading this chapter i became very concernedwhen Webb mentions that this novel "remains the only one of the most taught works in high school to treat slavery, to attempt representing a Black dialect, and to have a signifcant role for an African American character. Something that also stuck out in my mind, was the fact that Webb jumps back and forth between using the word "Black" and "African American", I was wondering if there was a purpose for this. After reading the account of a biracial man's account of reading this book in high school, this made me wonder. I questioned my biracial roommate on if she read Huckleberry Finn, and if so how the "n-word" was addressed and how reading this book in class made her feel. She explained how she knew her teacher very well, and knew that this specific teacher would never use this word personally. She also expressed how important it was to her that her teacher, before reading the book that the book did have racist views and the "n" word. The teacher made it clear that this word is unacceptable but still important when analyzing and reading the text. My roommate went on to say that if certain other teachers would have taught this book and used the word, it would have then made her feel uncomfortable. She was one of five students in her school that had an African American descent.
Another interesting point that I noticed while reading this chapter that the subject of race is very prominent in Mark Twain books. Injun Joe is another character that should be talked about when regarding classic American literature.