[SWTXBelle]

This came a week too later to inform my American Lit. 1865-present's class discussion on "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and the charge of racism. For the mid-term I had them write about the critical controversy regarding the portrayal of Jim and use of THAT word. I have a very diverse class this semester - several international students, who provided very interesting perspectives, and a cross-section of races. I got some really interesting essays. I told them that honestly I didn't care which side they came down upon, as long as they were thoughtful and backed up their assertions with quotes from the text. Good stuff.

Regarding Paula Deen - I've long thought she was over-exposed. I'd gotten tired of her southern butter schtick. Her rabid fans will keep her in butter, no doubt. I'm disappointed that now we will have even more "southern = racist" stereotyping.( I heard the n-word more when I lived in New Jersey then when I lived in Virginia, Tennessee or Texas - admittedly, a limited survey sample.) I always fear that the rest of the country seems to like to make the south their racism scapegoat, so they can smugly believe that it is a problem THERE and not HERE. On the plus side, it's at least got people talking about racism.