MisterE676's Full Review: John Howard Griffin and Robert (AFT) Bonazzi - Bla...
I'm not sure how or why I got my hands on this book. I was going through an interesting time in my life of which I won't go into the details here. Let's just leave it at the fact that this book inspired a change for the better in me.
This book was written by John Griffin in the late 50's/early 60's. John Griffin is a white man... or is he? Technically, yes. However, through the wonderful world of medicine, Griffin had his skin pigment darkened and headed towards the deep south to gauge the treatment of a black man from what was an extremely racist climate.
There are other books out there about journeys through parts of America and quests for enlightenment, but this one stands alone. A black man's real life in the racist south as seen through the eyes of a white man.
The anecdotes throughout this book are appalling. Stories of resentment, mistreatment, and outright hatred over something as trivial as the color of his skin; public servants flat out refusing his basic human rights, suspicions of storekeepers and merchants over the slightest things.
Griffin appears to capture what it was like to be a black man in that area at the time. I of course being a white kid from southern California growing up in the 80's and 90's might be ignorant in stating that, but the pain and emotion that makes this story so compelling seems real. It was for him, and he makes it real for the reader as well.
Racism hasn't gone anywhere. There might be a lot of people who practice acceptance and base their feelings on a person's complete being and not their sking color, but hatred still exists. Racism, classism, ageism, and sexism are all alive and thriving in America and beyond.
Griffin makes no bones about his experiences that he went through. To think that all of the events in this book took place in less than a one month period is just astounding. I can't imagine being subjected to such things over a period of years.
This book is a sojourn into reality. It has a story to tell and a lesson to teach. Reading it may be a bit of a slap in the face to your reality, but you might need it. Not many white males have walked on the other side of the street to see what is happening to his counterparts with a different skin tone.
This is a sobering tale of what lies hidden beneath a mask of contempt. If you want the real scoop on racial relations in this country, then you'd be hard pressed to find another source as your first stepping stone.
Anyone would be able to learn a lesson from this thought provoking tale.
The author tells of his experiences after he darkened his skin and traveled through the South in order to find out how it feels to be black.More at HotBookSale
In 1959, Griffin--a white man--headed to New Orleans, darkened his skin, and immersed himself in black society. He then traveled through several state...More at Buy.com
The author tells of his experiences after he darkened his skin and traveled through the South in order to find out how it feels to be black.More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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