Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin and A Place Called Heaven by Cecil Foster :: Black Like Griffin Heaven Foster Essays

Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin and A present Called Heaven by Cecil FosterRacism cruelly and whole corrupts the heart, body andintelligence not only of the oppressed, but it dehu human beingsizes andbrutalizes blush the oppressors. In the autobiographical diaries, BlackLike Me, written by John Howard Griffin, and A Place Called Heaven,written by Cecil Foster, both main characters alter their lifestyles,one in America, one in Canada, only to suffer raw hate, violence,crudity and inhumanity from egg washcloth racists. Through these experiences,both men encounter many racial barriers that exist between whites andblacks, which entirely destroys the dignity and self worth of theblacks. However, the cruelty towards the blacks was not their closeintriguing conclusion. Through observation, communication and personalexperiences, both men came to realize that racism is not a part ofhuman nature, but rather a by-product of the human nature of the fearof the unknown.John Howard Griff en was a white journalist who truly wanted tounderstand racism and how it affected the blacks. Griffen began toresearch the fig out of suicide tendencies in Southern blacks. However,he realizes that it is very difficult to collect useful informationbecause the Southern Negro will not tell the white man the truth,(Griffen, pg.12). The reason the blacks would not speak to him isbecause he is white and whites were ultimately the driving forcebehind the suicide of many blacks. The blacks feared the white man,even Griffen, who disagreed with racism. He observed the situation,saw the fear and the hurt in the eyes of the Blacks when he came tospeak to them, and decided that the only way to observe what it waslike to be black, was to become black, (Griffen, pg.21). Griffen, nowdisguised convincingly as a black man, was able to observe racism froma different perspective. Griffen observed how he was treated among hisfellow blacks in order to attain his examination of racism. Apleasant young Negro woman took my order and fixed my breakfastTheman at the counter turned toward me and smiled, as though he wanted totalk, (Griffen, pg.23). This proves that it is the whites and theblacks implanted and prohibiting fear that ultimately makes theirminds up about the opposite race. If Griffen were tranquilize white, thereis no doubt that the woman and the man would not have been so pleasantand open towards him. He observed the fact that just because he wasblack, like them, that they felt content and safe speaking andinteracting with him. Griffen then continues to board a bus.