Kruse's Keys: Read "James" to Hear Jim's Perspective on the those Hucklberry Finn Adventures

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Percival Everett's novel, "James," is an incredibly imaginative retelling of Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" that boldly centers the narrative on the character of Jim. More than just a new perspective, it's a searing indictment of the institution of slavery and a powerful reminder of the terror of everyday life for enslaved people. Through Jim's narrative, the reader is forced to confront evil in all its iterations.

One of the most striking, and chillingly humorous, aspects of the novel involves Jim's "language lessons." He teaches the children "slave speak" because, as he explains, "white folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don't disappoint them." He reviews the overarching principles with the kids:

• No eye contact

• Never speak first

• Always let whites name the trouble

• Give whites the opportunity to correct you

While much of Jim’s internal dialogue is tongue-in-cheek, it's also a deadly serious survival and coping strategy. These lessons are designed to prevent the slightest external slip of the tongue, which could easily lead to painful death or torture. This ever-present danger brings a profound seriousness to the "adventure" upon which Jim embarks—which, spoiler alert, is more of a harrowing marathon for freedom.

While Jim is the principal character, the novel retains much of Twain's stinging satire. Jim often depends on the young white child (i.e., Tom Sawyer) for his very survival at several junctures, precisely because no one would ever believe a Black man would be out on his own during that period. Yet, it is Jim’s heart—for Tom and, more importantly, for the family he leaves behind—that truly shines. He grapples with the lunacy of the system into which he is born without losing faith in himself or hope for the seemingly impossible.

For an author as prolific as Percival Everett, "James" feels like a magnum opus of sorts—perhaps even a catharsis. If not a total cleansing of the soul, then at least an unburdening of the anger, outrage, and generational injustice that he would argue make up the Black experience in America. His acknowledgments section sums it up best, adapting a well-known Twain quote: "Heaven for the climate; hell for my long-awaited lunch with Mark Twain."

Key Quotes:

Quotes: 

23 'Religion is just a controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient." 

23 'the better [whites] feel, the safer we are.

27 Judge rules he can't indict on a slave burned to death b/c it was a mob that

did it... 

35 "But where does a slave put anger?... the real source of our rage had to go without address"