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