Mark Twain's racial attitudes as related in his works to shifting patterns in tone
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The Department of English seeks to provide all university students with the skills of effective communication and critical thinking, as well as imparting knowledge of literature, creative writing, linguistics, speech and technical communication to students within and outside of the department.
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The Department of English and Speech was formed in 1939 from the merger of the Department of English and the Department of Public Speaking. In 1971 its name changed to the Department of English.
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1939-present
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- Department of English and Speech (1939-1971)
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- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (parent college)
- Department of English (predecessor, 1898-1939)
- Department of Public Speaking (predecessor, 1898-1939)
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Abstract
Mark Twain's attitudes toward non-whites are seen to be thinly spread throughout the content of much of his published material. Because of this and because these attitudes are often vague and inconsistent, they are not easily explained. However, one overall pattern to these views seems to be evident. Twain most often vacillates between two extreme views or dual myths pertaining to a given race. These views generally represent popular myths current in Twain's own time, such as the myth of hereditary evil in Negro "blood," and the myth of white supremacy. Twain's affinities for and conflicts between such unrealistic extremes prevail; he seldom takes a center position.