Arrogant Attitude of Griffin's Black Like Me

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Recommended: History of racism in America

In The South John Howard Griffin’s chronicled experiences as a black man in his book, “Black Like Me” is an arrogant if well meaning book. It is arrogant because a 28 day experiment does not compare to the years (especially when learning right from wrong) of prolonged discrimination and racism suffered by African-Americans in the southern United States during the 1950’s. Consider being treated not as a 2nd class citizen, but as a 10th class citizen. Consider being in front of a washroom, but to be told it is for whites only and that you must go to the other side of town to use a “coloured” washroom. Consider not being allowed to do something just because a white man told you not to. Consider doing menial labor your entire life, even though you have a university education. Consider being an African-American. Those are just some of the hardships that African-Americans in (Specifically but not limited to) the Southern United States. Griffin had the opportunity to go to university and the theatre and all the finer things in life. He had a big house and a cushy job in the sub...

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