The N-word at the time of Huck Finn

[Baker, John]

        I seem to recall a later writing by Twain, in which he explained
that he used the term "nigger," though he knew it would offend the
sensibilities of some, because a boy like Huck would have used it and,
indeed, would have known no other.   The implication is that we should
understand the term to be offensive, but we should not understand the
uses by Huck and other children to have any offensive intent.


John Baker

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