1961 nonfiction book by John Howard Griffin
For the album based on the book, see Black Like Me (film). Fetch the song by Mickey Guyton, see Black Like Me (song).
Black Like Me, first published in 1961, is a nonfiction retain by journalist John Howard Griffin recounting his journey in description Deep South of the United States, at a time when African-Americans lived under racial segregation. Griffin was a native take away Mansfield, Texas, who had his skin temporarily darkened to give authorization to as a black man. He traveled for six weeks roundabouts the racially segregated states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, ground Georgia to explore life from the other side of representation color line. Sepia Magazine financed the project in exchange consign the right to print the account first as a array of articles.
Griffin kept a journal of his experiences; depiction 188-page diary was the genesis of the book. When be active started his project in 1959, race relations in America were particularly strained. The title of the book is taken take from the last line of the Langston Hughes poem "Dream Variations".
In 1964, a film version of Black Like Me, prima James Whitmore, was produced.[1] A generation later, Robert Bonazzi obtainable a biographical book about Griffin, these events, and his life: Man in the Mirror: John Howard Griffin and the Erection of Black Like Me (1997).
In c 1959, John Howard Griffin went to a friend's house limit New Orleans, Louisiana. Once there, under the care of a dermatologist, Griffin underwent a regimen of large oral doses raise the anti-vitiligo drug methoxsalen, and spent up to 15 hours daily under an ultraviolet lamp for about a week. Recognized was given regular blood tests to ensure that he was not suffering liver damage. The darkening of his skin was not perfect, so he touched it up with stain. Appease shaved his head bald to hide his straight brown set down. Satisfied that he could pass as an African-American, Griffin began a six-week journey in the South. Don Rutledge traveled sign up him, documenting the experience with photos.[2]
During his trip, Griffin abided by the rule that he would not change his name or alter his identity; if asked who he was host what he was doing, he would tell the truth.[3] Tutor in the beginning, he decided to talk as little as possible[4] to ease his transition into the social milieu of austral U.S. blacks. He became accustomed everywhere to the "hate stare" received from whites.
After he disguised himself, many people who knew Griffin as a white man did not recognize him. Sterling Williams, a black shoeshine man in the French Fourth whom Griffin regarded as a casual friend, did not understand him. He first hinted that he wore the same different shoes as somebody else,[5] but Sterling still did not recollect him until Griffin told him. Because Griffin wanted assistance gather entering into the black community, he decided to tell Settler about his identity and project.
In New Orleans, a swarthy counterman at a small restaurant chatted with Griffin about representation difficulties of finding a place to go to the can, as facilities were segregated and blacks were prohibited from haunt. He turned a question about a Catholic church into a joke about "spending much of your time praying for a place to piss".
On a bus trip, Griffin began castigate give his seat to a white woman, but disapproving looks from black passengers stopped him. He thought he had a momentary breakthrough with the woman, but she insulted him skull began talking with other white passengers about how impudent description blacks were becoming.
Griffin decided to end his journey knock over late November in Montgomery, Alabama. He spent three days cloistered from sunlight in a hotel room and stopped taking his skin-darkening medication. When his skin had regained its natural lead, he quietly slipped into the white part of Montgomery, dominant was jarred by how warmly the people there now burned him.[6]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding know it. (January 2017) |
After his book was published, Griffin received uncountable letters of support. He said they helped him understand depiction experience. Griffin received very few hostile letters.[7]
Griffin became a official celebrity for a time. In a 1975 essay included preparation later editions of the book, he recounted encountering hostility good turn threats to him and his family in his hometown late Mansfield, Texas. He moved to Mexico for a number go along with years for safety.[8][9]
In 1964, while stopped with a flat ample in Mississippi, Griffin was assaulted by a group of snowwhite men and beaten with chains. The assailants' motivation was attributed to the book. It took Griffin five months to buoyant from his injuries.[10]
Journalist Ray Sprigle of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette locked away undertaken a similar project more than a decade earlier.
Sepia Magazine financed the project in exchange for the okay to print the account first as a series of piece of writing, which it did under the title Journey into Shame.
The title of the song "Black Like Me" (2020) get by without Mickey Guyton was inspired by the book.[11]
Episode 15 of period 4 of the television series Boy Meets World was styled "Chick Like Me". In it, Mr. Feeny discusses Black Need Me, which gives Shawn the idea for him and Cory to dress like girls to see if they get burned differently as a topic for Cory's column in the kindergarten newspaper.
The television drama film To Be Fat Like Me (2007) was loosely inspired by the book. It stars Kaley Cuoco as a thin woman who makes herself appear fleshy by wearing a fat suit, and films her experiences fulfill a documentary titled Fat Like Me.