Racism In John Howard Griffin's 'Black Like Me'

There is an old saying, "never judge a man until you 've walked a mile in his shoes." And while the origin of this aphorism may not be known, whether uttered first by Native Americans or not, the truth of the statement resonates in the mind of the modern hearer. The author of Black Like Me, John Howard Griffin, a white man, sought not just to walk a mile in the shoes of an African American but to sojourn through his world disguised as a black man living in the segregated South of 1959-60. By examining this poignant work, one can gain a greater appreciation for the plight of the black community, attempting to live under the harsh reality of White racism in the Deep South.

Black Like Me is the first hand account of John Howard Griffin, a middle-aged

Along the way he found occasional kindness mostly from blacks, but occasionally from whites. But, for the most part, he was the victim of systemic prejudice and racism. He was called a "nigger" or "boy," forced to use separate facilities dining, sleeping, or the bathroom. He was viewed as "up to something," by members of the White community and law enforcement, just for attempting to rest for a while in one place. Place after place he was bullied and harassed in many public settings. Griffin was first-hand that conditions for blacks were terrible in the South. In his six month time as a "black" man, he found himself worn out and run down, with a general feeling of hopelessness, identical to what he saw in the citizens of black communities. However, Griffin did experience some hope for the black community as he witnessed the civil disobedience and non-violent demonstration of black leaders, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. After spending time with black leaders in Atlanta, Griffin returned to New Orleans to make a photojournalistic record of his days there. Sepia published his article in 1960, and Griffin was inundated with opportunities to appear on television, radio, and in print material including Time magazine. While many congratulated him for his courageous work, others threatened his life and his family, burning him in effigy. In the end, Griffin called for a real and meaningful dialogue within American society, and called for real tolerance and understanding between blacks and whites. He believed whole-heartedly that blacks and whites were born blank slates in this world, and that social conditioning was responsible for the "inequalities" found in American