Huck Finn, the Newfie version

Originally published at: menino.com - Miguel's website

Over at HTMF (and everywhere else), they’re debating the N-word and Huckleberry Finn. As expected, the words ‘censorship’ and ‘banning’ are being thrown around.

That’s not what’s happening, of course. One publisher has decided to publish a version of the book without the N-word. I liken it to publishing a version of the book with a different cover, or with Coles notes. It’s an attempt to increase sales. All the media attention certainly helps the effort.

The book isn’t being banned or censored.

Personally, I think the N-word is a central part of the book, and it’s less of a book without it. But that doesn’t mean we have to freak out that someone is changing the book. It’s their right to take this public domain work and do what they’d like with it.

I’ve done the same thing. Here’s my version of Huckleberry Finn, with the usual N-word replaced by another N-word.