Dear All, especially Terrell--
        I found a lot to think about in your comments on Clemens and Hannibal,
Terrell.  As you probably gathered from my posting on the Burns' film, I
definitely think we still need a clearer look at the issues of race and
racism -- or maybe (since "racism" seems too loaded a term) "racialism."
        I think Terrell's point about "transformation" is very useful -- how were
Clemens' own ideas about African Americans transformed between his
childhood and (say) the writing of *Huck Finn*? and what about Huck's ideas
about "niggers"? how are they or aren't they transformed in the course of
his experience in the novel? and what about 19th century American
stereotypes of blacks -- especially post bellum ones? do what extent does
or doesn't the whole novel *Huck Finn* as published by Mark Twain in 1885
transform those racist/racialist images?
        I've always been very uncomfortable with the either/or terms of most of
the debate about *Huck* and Twain, including the stance of Burns' film --
either "racist" or "anti-racist."  The idea of transformation allows us to
keep the complexities, all the ground between either and or, in play, and
in view.
        I know a lot of members of the Forum are tired of this topic -- so I won't
keep pushing it here unless there's more response.  But thanks, Terrell,
for your posting.  And I hope you do tell the story of Clemens and
Hannibal, though as you're saying, the story doesn't stop there.  As the
story of "Mark Twain" and "America," the legacy of slavery and the problem
of race keeps expanding.  Stephen Railton