Hi Jerry. I too, had access when I was little, to an original copy of Joel Chandler Harris' book. As a very young child, I had a few favorites, but didn't really appreciate his writings until, as an adult, I sought them for my own children. I was able to find a copy at the public library.

It's unsettling to me to think that something that I find so rich and so valuable might be offensive to others. My regard for these writings in the original dialect is one of deep respect for the heritage that's represented.

I am not familiar with all of the stories, so if the objection is with regard to the content of the stories, I can't comment. But the dialect in which they are written is something for which I have great respect.