is Huck a racist?

Huck is not a racist.  Owning a slave does not make someone a racist.  It is not right for someone to own another human, but that is how things worked in that time period.  Huck and Jim were best friends at this point.  Huck had thought about maybe returning Jim to Miss. Watson, but he couldn't do that to him.  He didn't want to put Jim in misery.  "All right, then, I’ll GO to hell’ — and tore it up" (Twain 291).  Huck feels horrible for making Jim go through all that.  It was normal in society to own slaves.  People didn't think to much of it, and neither did Huck.  People didn't think others were racist because they owned a slave, it was acceptable.  Huck was never rude or mean towards Jim.  


Huck was good to his slaves.  He had respect for them.  When he was with the Grnagerson's he respected Buck.  Buck was always there for him and Huck couldn't be anything but nice to him.  Huck was very good towards both Jim and Buck.  "When I got down out of the tree I crept along down the river bank a piece, and found the two bodies laying in the edge of the water, and tugged at them till I got them ashore; then I covered up their faces, and got away as quick as I could. I cried a little when I was covering up Buck’s face, for he was mighty good to me" (161).  Huck felt that they didn't deserve the harsh treatment that they got.  Huck had respect for Buck by doing this.  By having respect for someone, usually means they are accepted for every bit of them.  Not certain parts.

Huck Finn post 4-I'll go to hell

Huck thinks he might go to hell. He is trying to set Jim free. He feels bad that Miss Watson is out looking for her runaway slave when Huck has him the whole time. Huck feels so guilty that he stole Miss Watson's property. Jim belongs to her and Huck feels terrible that he knows where Jim is and is not saying anything. "Miss Watson, your runaway nigger Jim is down here two mile below Pikesville, and Mr. Phelps has got him and he will give him up for the reward is you send" (Twain 290). Huck starts to write a letter to Miss Watson that was going to explain what happened to Jim and where he was. He felt that since Jim belonged to Miss Watson, maybe he should return her property. Huck starts to feel bad about this letter though.

Huck starts to realize that maybe he shouldn't send the letter. He thinks that Jim has been locked up his whole life stuck being a slave. He does acknowledge that Jim is Miss Watson's property. Huck starts to feel even worse when Jim would have to return. He was about to send the letter,then he thought. "All right, then, I'll GO to hell" (291). Huck tore up the letter and would rather go to hell for not returning Miss Watson's stolen property, than have to know Jim is suffering and will be a slave for the rest if his life. Jim was so excited to be free from slavery, and for Huck to take that all away by writing one letter, would crush Jim's heart. This is ironic because Huck never meant to hurt anybody, but either way he will end up hurting someone. He cares for both of them but doesn't want to see them hurt.