January 10, 2011

Learning from Huck Finn, 1968 to today

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The San Francisco Chronicle points us to The Once and Future School‘s contribution to the current debate about racism in Mark Twain‘s Huck Finn. Posted on Youtube (below) the documentary production company has drawn from their current film Walk Right In : The Story of the Yale Summer High School which deals with students confronting racism during the tumultuous summer of 1968. Former students vividly describe their experience with Huck Finn, book burning, racism and censorship. And they argue on behalf of confrontation as a way to air and resolve disputes and differences.

Valerie Merians is the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.

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