Huck Finn Gets Some Changes

You wouldn't happen to have the story book: "Little Black -----" would you? If you do, you think you might be able to download a copy of it for me?

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r.h. in oklahoma

Raised a country boy, and will die a country boy.

Because you think it is an image to glorify, or so that you can have it as a reminder of how poorly blacks were treated?
Just wondering why you asked...

As I recall, -----'s restaurants were called into question. The name is actually a combination of the names of the founders. Hick Finn and Ton Saywer are wonderful books. Leave them as they are.

But then how many Bible translations have there been? Today we have the 'King James version'. I saw one version which has been translated into what was at the time today's 'hip' version so it would relate the children. The KJV may have added or subtracted, but at some point, just leave it alone.

What part of Little Black ----- teaches anything about how 'poorly blacks were treated'?

I have a copy (somewhere) and plan to keep it. I keep it because it is part of my childhood, because it is as it was written, because a lot of politically correct people seem to want to destroy it.

Mainly, so I can show my grandchildren the book had nothing whatsoever to do with black people being treated poorly -

My interpretation of the book is that it glorifies the "pickaninny" image that was hurtful to blacks.


EDA- criticizing a person for their behavior is one thing, but mocking the facial features and skin color of an innocent child is wrong. That is what I have a problem with the book.

What she said

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

There was no mocking done - in my book, he is an Indian or from that area.
As a child, I never considered him as black. He certainly wasn't like any black people I knew.

If we truly want to make things better, we can start treating all people like people, not different. To champion some groups or spend time worrying that something is going to hurt their feelings just serves to perpetuate the idea of our differences. This, at a time, when we should be looking for the things that we have in common - like the desire to survive and thrive. Be concerned about some hurt feelings, may make some feel better, but it really sustains the idea that our differences are somehow important - when we should be stressing how very unimportant they are.

That is because pickaninnies had overly exaggerated black features. I am no champion or PC police by any means. I am just expressing my opinion about a book.

DITTO!

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I LOVE DONUT BALLS

i dont like to think tooo much before i speak ... heehee ... i like to be just as surprised as you are.

I recall reading that Twain's editor softened the text of his books to be more socially acceptable for the era he lived in.

Just because a current edition gets produced to be socially acceptable to the society of an era doesn't mean the previous editions will be lost.

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"I didn't have time to slay the dragon. It's on my To Do list!"

[QUOTE=shanzone2001;4843979]That is because pickaninnies had overly exaggerated black features. I am no champion or PC police by any means. I am just expressing my opinion about a book.[/QUOTE

I don't know your age, but believe me in my day, we knew what a pickaninny was? And the ----- in my book didn't fit that image.

Just because a current edition gets produced to be socially acceptable to the society of an era doesn't mean the previous editions will be lost.
Actually, there's a good chance it will be or at least not be widely available to people. What publisher is going to republish the old version when the new one is so 'acceptable'?

Also, I'm afraid books are going to become scarce - except maybe for all those Harlequin romances - and the old ones will not be perserved.

I've heard more than one person say they think we should do away with libraries because everyone gets everything off the internet.

Hmm anyone see book burnings in the near future?

not sure which way the wind will blow there will they be stoked with the abominations of political correctness or the original "offensive" versions?

this is nothing new, I have all kinds of old books that have knowledge that you will not find in newer books as it was deemed dangerous. not quite the same but still censorship.

I was born in WI and honestly don't think I saw a single black person until we moved from there to FL when I was about eight. I clearly remember going through some small town, perhaps in NC or SC, and seeing black people for the first time. Amazed. At Dell's Department Store in St. Pete I wanted some water so used a fountain marked with 'Colored Only'. Heck, I guess I thought it was going to be soda or such. Some guy saw me and jerked me back by my shirt at the neck, saying "Boy, can't you read!".

Remember seeing outhouses behind gas stations marked as "Colored' and 'White'.
I think at the time I realized it was going too far.

At that time my father was a member of the Lion's Club and they did an annual 'ministral' show. One of my sisters has pictures of Dad in his 'black paint'. Was held at the elementary school cafeteria/autorium. I remember Dad diving to it and the look some people gave him. What is that black man doing in a car load of white folks? Lesson learned that day even if I didn't realize it at the time

I remember during high school when the civil rights battle were fought and remember being with someone watching TV who sic-ed the dogs on the demonstrators. I thought it was funny at the time. I remember mocking Dr. MLK's now wonderful speech.

(An aside. During the Lincoln Memorial event MLK was a minor speaker. He originally didn't plan on doing his 'I have a dream..." but Mahaya Jackson (sp?) was behind him. She had heard him do it in the past and urged him to continue with it. Would civil rights be what they are today if she hadn't of done so?)

I suspect I was in high school before I learned the 'N' word stood for something else. I was 'liffy white'. Didn't go to school with any, in the Navy blacks were predominately ship's services, such as laundry. I don't recall a single black person in the same class in my five years of college.

I have learned to mellow out, but it is hard to out grow what you are taught when young. (Re: the thread of Princess Boy.)

In February I had a knee replaced and used a walker for a couple of weeks. Stopped at a M&P grocery store and as I was walking to the door, a black man saw me coming and stood a bit aside. After I passed he asked me if I wan't going to thank him for doing so. I was concentrated on walking. It simply didn't occur to me at the time and it works both ways. And, yes, I should have at least nodded and said hello or such.

Jim was a slave to Huck's aunt. Indian Joe was someone else. Something about gold hidden in a cave when Tom knived IJ. As I recall the aunt was going to sell Jim because she needed the money and Huck was trying to free Jim by taking him to a free slave state, but they overslept on the raft and went by Charo, IL I had the hots at the time for Becky and still wondering who she eventually married. But then I also had the lots for Kathy Lennon (LW's The Lennon Sisters), who is about my same age. I love Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Did then, and still do. Just now view them differently.

PC can be carried too far.

(And, Shrek, we are about the same age. I highly suspect you went through a similar experience.)

You just gave me a flashback! I grew up in St. Pete in the 1950's. I don't recall a Dells' Department store but I sure do remember Webb's City - World's Most Unusual Drug Store. http://www.cardcow.com/29820/webbs-c...sburg-florida/

As to the restrooms at gas stations I also recall the ones labeled men, women, and colored. I was only about 10 years old then so it didn't really mean much to me, e.g., that was just the way things were then.

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
--Thomas Jefferson

Yes, Dell Webb's Department Store. Is it still open? My oldest sister worked in the candy display counter department in the mid-1950s. Remember seeing the mermaid display as a youth. Then went back as an adult and wondered why I thought at the time it was fantastic.

As I recall he later sponsored a Webb City in AZ, restricted to older folks. Even grandchildren were restricted from living there.

What made it different likely was the multiple floors. I'm pretty sure that is the first place I had seen with esculator steps. I thought it was fun, but my mother was terroried.

And you could buy licorish (sp?) candy called "N" toes and C-babies. Haven't seen them, even with PC names now, in a long time.

I wonder if this PC idiocy will expand to clean up rap songs, get rid of all the "cracker" references on TV and all the acceptable racism?
Or is PC a one way street?
I think we know the answer.

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Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain
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Enforced tolerance is oppression

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Alas, it went bankrupt in 1979. I think you may be confusing Del Webb's Sun City Retirement places with Webb's City. Webb's City was originated by James Earl "Doc" Webb. Here's a link to a short history - http://www.lostparks.com/webbs.html

I do remember the mermaids and was fascinated by them. Did you happen to ever see the "real" mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs?

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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
--Thomas Jefferson

Beck did a good program tonight on this topic.....and the fact that Congress skipped the 3/5 clause when reading the Constitution today, because it was 'offensive'.

By removing the parts that are 'offensive', we take away the opportunity for our children to ask 'why?' (why is that in the Constitution?, why can't we say the 'n' word?) and the opportunity for us to teach our children about our mistakes.

Excellent teacher! However, I read (many decades ago) HF and TS as a preteen. Do any grade school teachers want to comment on my belief that it'd be harder to keep 8-12 yos from saying 'N-' if they learn it in those books? Language changes. I can't read Chaucer very well. The new Bible versions make a lot more sense to me than (but aren't as beautiful- poetic- as) KJ.

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US Army veteran, military retiree spouse, and military; civilian; British NHS; and VA doctor.

Mermaids, oh yes. Knew one in high school - before she changed. I remember swimming at WW Springs when it had a swim area slightly downstream of the spring. Also went to 'the sand banks' down springs more which a tour boat will now tell you an old indian canoe is on the bottom. Weren't there when I was.

Basically at that time WW Springs was a crossroad. Now I understand a small city.

Remember folks looking at property in Homosasa Springs and Cleveland. On the way back to St. Pete Dad stopped for gas outside New Port Richey. He got talking to the attendant and was told if you want to see the 'real' NPR, turn left down the road and follow River Road. Yep, we ended up in NPR.