Huck Finn and Identity Issues

Huckleberry Finn was set in the 1840's, a time of racial dominance of the whites over the blacks. Modern society is a time of racial freedom and identifying with a certain race. In order to allow us to place Huck in our modern age, we need to make a basic observation. Racism was the way of the times in the book. Huck was doing nothing wrong, according to the beliefs at the time, by disliking black people. It would be like finding out that 100 years from now, people would think that anyone who used a cell phone was evil even though it is typical and accepted today. With that observation, we can bring Huck to the present and see what he thinks about our society.

The issue of race has, is, and continues to be a 'hot' topic of discussion; however, race is not the root of the problem people seem to think it is. The true problem is identifying with a race or races. Everyone has a race which is established and unchangeable not matter how hard they may try to not fit that race. The identity is the important part. In Goin' Gangsta, Chosin' Cholita by Nell Bernstein, April is a white teen who chooses to identify herself by dressing and acting like a Mexican teen (604). How the tides have changed since Huck's days. In the 1840's, the black slaves would often try to dress and act like their white masters. Today, white teen boys and girls are wearing clothes and talking in ways that many inner city black teens do. Huck would be astonished at this initially because who would want to act like a slave? He would also know how Jim and the blacks took pride in their color and wonder why these white kids do not take pride in theirs'. Bernstein points out that whites today feel left out because "'...all the pride now in people of color's ethnicity...They have nothing like that, no identity, nothing they can say they're proud of (Bernstein 608).'" Huck would also be surprised by how successful people of color are in the present day.

If Huck was told in the 1840's that someday a black woman (named Oprah) would be one of the richest women in the world, he would be astonished for two reasons. First, she was black and therefore probably uneducated and not capable of making a lot of money. Secondly, she is a woman, who were also oppressed at the time. They were not typically allowed a job and left to work at home. Today, people can be and do whatever their heart desires if they work hard, no matter their skin color or economic class. Lopez is a great example of this fact. He is a Mexican American who desired to be a surfer. It went directly against his stereotype; he should be a gangster from the hood. In Of Cholos and Surfers, he writes "The most important thing I learned was that I could do just about anything I wished, within reason. I could be a surfer, if I chose, and even cholos would respect my decision (601)." Anyone, minorities in particular, can overcome stereotypes these days. In Huck's time period, they may not have been able to because of racial boundaries or laws, such as slaves being able to read. One thing Huck would be familiar with is races attributing qualities based solely on that race.

In modern society, it is not uncommon to hear sayings such as "they are a good dancer because they are black" or "only white people can be billionaires." We tend to cross the cultural and racial lines when we start applying our race to others. Twain provides a good example of this when Tom was injured and Jim needed take care of him when Huck left for the doctor, was only given the credit for his good deed because "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did say-so

it was all right now..." These actions give no merit to the individual or their race and the person stating these claims is taking all the credit for themselves.

The main thing I believe Huck would notice about our current culture is our focus on a select cluster of races and cultures while shutting so many others out. The majority of people call for racial and cultural equality, however, they often forget about the 'others', as Melissa Algranati calls herself. Many people are offended, and I feel Huck would agree, that while we are 'embracing' diversity, we often forget to recognize or marginalize certain groups. The SATs are a good example, and in Being an Other, Algranati writes, "I remember the feeling of confusion as I struggled to find the right answer. I was faced with a bad multiple-choice question in which there was only supposed to be one right answer, but more than one answer seemed to be correct (613)." It is not easy to classify an individuals background by a bubble in answer. What is 'White/Caucasian' or 'African-American'? Many people have the notion that being an African-American requires the person to be dark skinned, but what about a white person born in Africa (because there are white people who have lived in Africa for a long time) who migrated to America? Are they African-Americans? I would argue yes and I believe Huck would as well. He is able to see past skin color and look at the deeper issue of things. People tend to do two things with their ethnicity today; flaunt it, or as Melissa Algranati writes "I have basically lived a chameleon-like existence for most of my life (616)." She is not able to take pride in her ethnicity because it is so muddled and mixed; she feels as many whites do, disconnected. Huck would be saddened by this lack of culture and societies way of boosting those whose culture is clear while shunning those who may have many different cultures.

While Huck would be amazed and approve of the many steps that have been taken to bring equality to all races, he would also be disheartened by our over generalization of the races and our treatment of 'others'. In an ideal world, the issue of race would not even be considered in day to day life. Huck would back me up in saying that the one basic truth is each persons' feelings on the race issue. There will never be a place that everyone will be happy, every need met, and all represented fairly. If people can follow their hearts, much like Huck did, the world will be a much better place for all.

Works Cited

Algranati, Melissa. "Being an Other". Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Sonia Maasik, Jack Solomon. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. 613-617

Bernstein, Nell. "Goin' Gangsta, Choosin' Cholita". Signs ofLife in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Sonia Maasik, Jack Solomon. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. 604-609.

Lopes, Jack. "Of Cholos and Surfers". Signs of Life in the USA:Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Sonia Maasik, Jack Solomon. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2006. 597-601.

Twain, Mark. Huckleberry Finn. Project Gutenberg. 29 June 2004. 27 June 2008. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/76>.