John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me

381 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The power of the media in influencing public perceptions

Black Like Me

With song lyrics playing in my head, I strolled into our local Wal-Mart with my mother and sister, excited to purchase a new set of headphones. For the day's attire, I'd chosen long khaki shorts, a black band logo shirt, knee-high black socks, Globe skate shoes, and my cute Pokey backpack. As I walked along, I tried not to pay attention to the fact that I was being stared at more than usual.

I found the electronics section and looked for the aisle with headphones. Then I saw them, gleaming in their plastic packaging; you have to understand, my old headphones were terrible, so I was excited. I began to scan each row, looking for the perfect set at the perfect price.

I didn't pay much attention to the employee who looked down the aisle as I decided on a small silver headset. But in the midst of grabbing my chosen prize, I noticed the same employee look down the aisle again. I froze, and thought, No way, you're overreacting. It can't be. So, headset in hand, I walked to the end of the aisle and looked over. The employee was nowhere to be seen. I shrugged and looked back down my aisle only to see her at the other end, looking at me! I was startled and quite upset, so I gave her an odd look and started walking to the other side of the section. I wanted to see what would happen, and hoped I was imagining things. There I pretended to browse, then turned around. The employee was right there! She turned quickly to fix something that wasn't out of place. I was infuriated and humiliated at how I was being treated. Not once was I asked if I needed help, but the whole time, I was spied on.

Show More
Related

  • The Theme Of Outward Appearance In Barbie, Utahna Faith's Toasters

    1843 Words  | 4 Pages

    The world of young adults is a complicated landscape, with cliques and a desire to fit in. This push for conformity stretches not only through behavior, but more noticeably through the apparel worn by youths. At the beginning of the story, the narrator states that she and her friends are in “trouble,” but they “do not know what [they did], and [they are] sure [they] did not mean to do it” (103). This fear of the unknown continues throughout the entirety of the story, and readers can infer that the crime the girls have committed was simply dressing out of the norm for their age. The narrator also mentions that she is “white-skinned, ebony-haired, red-lipped, and ethereal,” far different than the expectation for her being “suntanned, golden-haired, peach-lipped, and earthbound” like her mother had been (103). As time repeats itself, so too do the fashion trends popular among the masses, and the look that the narrator’s mother portrayed was the same as the look her daughter is expected to adhere to. This is not the case, though, and because of her and her band’s choices in clothes, the narrator feels ostracized by not only her peers but her father as well, who “looks at [them] without moving his mouth or turning his head” as they leave the house (104). This reaction, or lack thereof, indicates that the father disapproves of the choices his daughter has made about how she dresses, but feels as though it is not his place to criticize her. The ending line does an excellent job at summarizing the angst felt by most teens as the narrator and her band feel as though “[they] are right to turn [themselves] in” to the pressures exerted by their peers to comply to what is expected of them (104). Just as women’s individuality is torn down by the pressures

    Read More

  • Psychological and Ethical Egoism, Mill vs Kant, and Ethical Relativism

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    Egoism is a view that states that what a person wants is somewhat relevant to what humans actually do. There is two main types of egoism: psychological and ethical. These two views are very similar; because of this they can easily be interchanged. It is important to be able to recognize the dissimilarity of these two views.

    Read More

  • Skin Color in Black Like Me

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is the value of skin color?  In the biological point of view, it is worth nothing.  In the social point of view, it represents community standings, dignity, confidence or something people have never imagined.  In the story Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin, a white Southern reporter, who is the author and the main character, experienced an unforgettable journey in the Deep South.  Mr. Griffin has a heart, which is filled with curiosity; he therefore undertook a significant project.  He took several medical treatments to change his skin pigments from white to black in order to write a report. To create a successful project, Griffin had to leave his wife to be a temporary African American.  Being an African American brought him many unfair encounters.  However, after he changed back to a Caucasian, the attitude of everyone had immediately turned, and they treated him well.  Mr. Griffin felt bad, and he told everyone about his experiences by writing books and attending press interviews.  Throughout these hard times, one can read this book and find out the characteristics of the author, how he saw the light bulb, and the truth that he wanted people to understand.

    Read More

  • Comparison Between Ethical Egoism And Ethical Egoism

    1516 Words  | 4 Pages

    In philosophy, egoism is the theory that one's self is, or should be, the motivation and the goal of one's own action. There are many different forms of egoism, for example, there is psychological egoism, ethical egoism, rational egoism and much more. All these different types of egoism differ in different types of ways but in of all of them it is implied that we are all self-interested and not interested in others.

    Read More

  • Egoism And Ethical Egoism

    2219 Words  | 5 Pages

    • Once more, the ordinary science’ proves itself as the master of classification, inventing and defining the various categories of Egoism. Per example, psychological egoism, which defines doctrine that an individual is always motivated by self-interest, then rational egoism which unquestionably advocates acting in self-interest. Ethical egoism as diametrically opposite of ethical altruism which obliges a moral agent to assist the other first, even if sacrifices own interest. Also, ethical egoism differs from both rational and psychological egoism in ‘defending’ doctrine which considers all actions with contributive beneficial effects for an acting individual

    Read More

  • Egoism

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    more. It is the realization by the individual that he is an individual; that, as far as he is concerned, he is the only individual.

    Read More

  • John Locke

    607 Words  | 2 Pages

    Locke's Essay is one of the classical documents of British empirical philosophy. His official concern is with epistemology, the theory of knowledge. Locke sees the u...

    Read More

  • Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

    338 Words  | 1 Pages

    Aristotle believes that the amount of happiness one experiences is in direct relation to the substance and importance of the daily activities that we perform. The question then is, how is a person supposed to know which activities to partake in? According to Aristotle, we should fill our lives with activities that require the exercise of our reason, or intelligence. Another belief of Aristotle’s is that a person wishing to attain true happiness must first learn how to use his unique gift of intellectual thought to it’s greatest extent. The philosopher is thought to have the most pleasant life because he seeks knowledge only for the sake of knowledge; not to further himself, but only to gain more knowledge.

    Read More

  • A&P Queenie perspective

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...u decently dressed when you come in here.” this man was entirely strict and conservative, as much was to be expected of a man around these part, he was most likely an avid church goer, Sunday school teacher, Boy Scout troop leader name your cliché. I started again “We are decent,” and before I could continue Lengel interrupted me, “Girls, I don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy.” and then he walked toward the clerk with a disappointed look and asks “Sammy, have you rung up this purchase?” with an astonished expression caused by the event that just occurred before his eyes, Sammy simply replies “No” and rings me up with a great deal of haste, as to get my friends and I out of this self-righteous store before we disgrace it any further. He hands me the change then we hurry out of the store rushing to the car.

    Read More

  • Aristotle and the Book of Nicomanchean Ethics

    2039 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Book I of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states that the ultimate human goal or end is happiness. Aristotle then describes steps required for humans to obtain the ultimate happiness. He also states that activity is an important requirement of happiness. A virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The role of virtue to Aristotle is an important one, with out it, it seems humans cannot obtain happiness. Virtue is the connection one has to happiness and how they should obtain it. My goal in this paper is to connect Aristotle’s book of Nicomachean Ethics to my own reasoning of self-ethics. I strongly agree with Aristotle’s goal of happiness and conclude to his idea of virtues, which are virtuous states of character that affect our decision making in life.

    Read More

  • Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

    1259 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of Aristotle’s most influential works, Nicomachean Ethics, lays claim that there is an actual, material definition of what happiness is and ways one may possibly attain the greatest good in life, which is ultimately to be happy. Furthermore, Aristotle distinguishes that there is a difference between higher and lower pleasures that one ought to seek in life. He believed that the highest good one has the possibility of achieving is grasping true virtue. In Aristotle’s eyes, there are different types of virtue; intellectual virtue is learned from the teachings of society, whereas moral virtue is discovered as result of our habits.

    Read More

  • Ethical Egoism Essay

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Egoism is the philosophical concept of human self-interest and the relationship between ethics, altruism, and rationality (Robbins). Psychological egoism and ethical egoism are the two concepts or positions that explain how one is or ought to be motivated to obtain their self-interest. The difference between ethical and psychological egoism is that the former deals with how a person should act and the latter deals with a universal concept practiced by all. With the theory of psychological egoism, selfishness proves it to be false; thus, can true ethical egoism be possible?

    Read More

  • How Middle School Shaped My Life

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    I started wearing what I wanted and not just what was popular. I didn’t have close connections with my friends at the time either. Most of them gossiped all the time, and that’s just not me. I had been stuck in my shell for way too long in fears of being an outcast. The first day of trying to come out of my shell I was made fun of, but I didn’t care near as much as I thought I would. These people are making jokes about me but don’t have any clue who I am, what I’ve been through, or what my future holds. So why even give them the time of day? I kept on wearing what I wanted and actually made life-long friends who were into the same things as I was. It does not matter what you wear or how you look honestly. The only thing that should matter is what’s inside of you, and you shouldn’t be discouraged to express that in fears of someone not liking you. “Those who matter don’t mind, those that mind don’t matter” (Theodore Suess Geisel.)

    Read More

  • The Homeless Man

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    I glanced around the dimly lit dining room of our neighborhood Jack-In-The-Box at the collection of adolescent girls and boys gossiping about their absent friends, urban families enjoying their weekly treat of chicken fingers with exotic dipping sauces, and a teenage employee attempting to grasp a carpet sweeper with her fry-greased hands. As each of their gazes wandered the room curiously observing the quaint surroundings, their eyes conveniently skipped over the socially unacceptable figure in the corner, but I saw him clearly.

    Read More

  • Egoism Essay

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many theories bombarded in an attempt to set a moral code by which people are ought to live by. Plenty of controversies and arguments are raised against each one. One of the controversial moral doctrines is egoism, or simply preferring one's self interest over other's interests and desires. The doctrine seems to be reasonable to a certain extent at first, yet it fails drastically when having a second thought about it. Throughout my essay, I will explain the different types of egoism, and argue for each one of them. Finally, I will provide counter arguments for each type along with my personal opinion and analysis.

    Read More

More about John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me

Open Document