Analysis Of Black Like Me By Howard Griffin
The book Black Like Me was written by a man who did the unthinkable in 1959. John Howard Griffin purposely altered the pigment in his skin to darken. He had transformed himself into a black man! Within the text, he describes his disturbing encounters with the inevitable traveling deep into the South. From New Orleans, Louisiana to Mobile, Alabama he journeyed through masses of racism but also discovered a newfound respect and kindness given by his fellow Negroes. Throughout his dangerous expedition, he grew to know not just what it felt to look like a Negro, but to also be one. This included the hostility and animosity felt by the blacks by the segregated actions and treatments handed physically and verbally by the Whites. From beginning to …show more content…
According to the doctor, vitiligo “…causes white spots to appear on the face and body…” of the victim (Griffin 6). In addition, the poor sucker would be forced to wear makeup. On average, the medication would take about six weeks to three months to darken the George 2 pigmentation in the skin. As a result, John urged the dermatologist to prescribe him the possibly dangerous medication as soon as possible. While visiting the doctor’s office, John stayed nearby in a hotel. Each day he stopped by an old African American man who would shine his shoes. After several days he learned that the old shoe shiner was named Sterling Williams.Six days later he was out on his wild quest. On the first day of being a Negro John had his shoes polished again. Eventually he was able to convince Sterling that he was really who he said he was. Over the next several weeks John dealt with some newly felt hostility. Such as on evening he was walking down the road and a young white boy started to call him names and follow him. Terrified John ran to an older couple to discover that the young teenager was no longer …show more content…
Nevertheless, he escaped the white teenager. John also experienced a more respected feeling or kindness with in each Negro. Even when John moved to Mississippi he was treated rightfully by his Negro peers. When John announced to Sterling that he would move to Mississippi for another experience, Sterling thought him crazy. This was because it was ten times worse over there. John was amazed to find out how a complete Negro stranger would go so far out of his way to help him. For example, a young black man walked him two mile to a theater and offered to come back to see him back home safely. Also another black man picked him up and took him home with him to stay with his family for the night. After all of the new friends and eye opening experiences, John finally decided it was time to call the transformation over. Soon after returning home, he started to become popular in the sense that he was interviewed on many television shows, radio shows, and could have been found in many books, magazines and even newspapers. This new popularity also brought George 3 negative attention on his town. For this his family received death threats and as a result his family and his wife’s parents moved to Mexico for several
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