Tarzan is Not a Racist. And Neither is Edgar Rice Burroughs.

So, I've been reading Tarzan the Magnificent with Joe for the past couple of weeks or so.  We're about halfway through now.  And for the most part it's kind of "eh," you know?  I mean, Tarzan is always cool--I'd say in the top 5 of coolest characters of all time, wouldn't you?--but I think Edgar Rice Burroughs ran out of story steam for the Lord of the Jungle long before he hit the 21st novel.  But there are two noteworthy things in this novel--or at least in the first half of it.

Noteworthy Thing 1:   Edgar Rice Burroughs uses the word "nigger."  First time in the 31 1/2 of his books I've read to date.  And he used it ten times.  Which is about ten times too many in my book.  (I do, however, share Louis C. K.'s disdain for saying "the N word.")


I am happy to say that this is counter-balanced by Noteworthy Thing 2:  

from Chapter 11

"Have you ever really stopped to think about what that would mean, Stan? What it would mean to you both in the future— in America? I'm thinking just as much of her happiness as yours, old man. I'm thinking of the Hell on earth that would be your lot—hers and yours. You know as well as I what one drop of colored blood does for a man or woman in the great democracy of the U.S.A. You'd both be ostracized by the blacks as well as the whites. I'm not speaking from any personal prejudice; I'm just stating a fact. It's hard and cruel and terrible, but it still remains a fact."

Wood nodded in sad acquiescence. There was no anger in his voice as he replied. "I know it as well as you, but I'd go through Hell for her. I'd live in Hell for her, and thank God for the opportunity. I love her that much."

"Then there's nothing more to be said. If you feel that way about it, I'm for you. I'll never mention it again, and if you ever do marry it'll never change me toward either of you."

Hmmm.  Despite what I've heard from other sources, it's pretty clear that these are not the words of a racist.  At least in terms of the characters who are speaking.  And I have a hard time believing that a racist writer would create a non-racist character.  Especially in this context, wherein a white dude is talking about being in love with a black woman.

Just sayin'.