Research Paper Revised

After tossing a few ideas around for the research paper, I think I've finally settled on researching various black perspectives, past and present on Huckleberry Finn. I don't recall my own reaction, with respect to the issue of racial injustice the first time I read the novel. But this time I was wondering how my black classmates were viewing the work, in light of the fact that it's still required reading in most schools. I became interested in race relations when I lived in Los Angeles in the 1990's. At that time the Rodney King riots were happening very close to my home. This very tumultuous time in Los Angeles and in my life will forever be etched in my mind. I got to witness first-hand the tangible effects of racism. After reading the critical essays at the end of the novel, I realized that this was a topic that interested me. After reading Toni Morrison's piece and learning that James Baldwin, another author that I like, had also commented on the racial issues raised by the book, I thought I was bound to find some interesting perspectives, especially by writers, who can appreciate great writing, despite the overt discrimination. The books I have chosen: Satire or Evasion, James Baldwin's Another Country, and Black, White, and Huckleberry Finn will hopefully support my thesis that although offensive throughout, the novel and Twain deserve to be viewed as anti-slavery and anti-racist by various esteemed black authors to be a legitimate American classic. I may find the contrary to also be true. I'm anxious to see how these various authors feel about the novel, since I have great respect for them.