The Battle Over Huck Finn.

NewSouth Books has released a tidied-up version of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, sanitizing the classic by removing the “n” word.

The tweaking is an attempt to reinstate the oft-banned book, first published in 1885, back into curriculums. Incidentally, "injun" has also been replaced.

Writers are truth-tellers. The "n" word in this story is honest and appropriate. The censors, who have replaced the offensive "n" word with "slave" have completely destroyed the book's rhythm. 

As a writer, I find the reworking of a book without the author's permission disrespectful.

More than a century later, race remains a hot button issue in America. But instead of evading it, wouldn't we honor Twain--and readers--with an honest discourse?

Check out Harvard University professor Randall Kennedy's book for a contemporary take on this controversial slur: http://www.amazon.com/Nigger-Strange-Career-Troublesome-Word/dp/0375713719/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1294686639&sr=8-2.