Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin and To Kill A Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee

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Recommended: Impact of stereotypes on individuals and society

In Black Like Me, author John Howard Griffin’s uses his real life account of his experience of temporarily transforming himself into a black man for six long and intense weeks to experience black oppression first hand. In To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses the point of view of Scout Finch, to learn about her father Atticus Finch, an attorney who hopelessly strives to prove the innocence of a black man that was unjustly accused of rape in the southern United States in the 1930s. Black Like Me and To Kill a Mockingbird shows that prejudice originates from ignorance or a person’s unwillingness to understand others. Both Novels present the idea that the only way to bring equality and empathy in society is through courage, knowledge and compassion.

In Black Like Me John Griffin displayed courage throughout the novel; fear waited for him everywhere he went. This took a lot of courage to face the same fears Griffin encountered. Griffin also battled a lot of prejudice during his trips in the south of the United States. He took abuse that was so unbearable that no one should ever be experienced by anyone. By being courageous he, took the pain and suffering while being away from his family just to take a step towards equality for all. An example can be when a group of white men calling him names based on the colour of his skin;

A car full of white men and boys sped past. They yelled obscenities at me.

A Satsuma flew past my head and broke against a building.

The street was loud and raw, with tension as thick as fog. I felt the

insane terror of it […] another car roared down

...

... middle of paper ...

... equality and empathy in society is through courage, knowledge and compassion. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus was trying to teach his children Jem and Scout that everybody needs to develop morals, knowledge and compassion in order to understand people fully. In which both children especially scout learned never to judge a person or not like a person until you never know what they are going through. In Black Like Me Griffin learned that an environment defined by the evils of racism, can still have good people that flourish in this society. Whites like the construction worker from Alabama, and blacks like Sterling Williams proof that even though racism can warp the human spirit, it cannot destroy the human capacity for love and kindness. Griffin argues that the only way to change society and truly understand a person is through courage, knowledge and compassion.

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