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

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

Racism cruelly and completely corrupts the heart, body and

intelligence not only of the oppressed, but it dehumanizes and

brutalizes even the oppressors. In the autobiographical diaries, Black

Like 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 white racists. Through these experiences,

both men encounter many racial barriers that exist between whites and

blacks, which entirely destroys the dignity and self worth of the

blacks. However, the cruelty towards the blacks was not their most

intriguing conclusion. Through observation, communication and personal

experiences, both men came to realize that racism is not a part of

human nature, but rather a by-product of the human nature of the fear

of the unknown.

John Howard Griffen was a white journalist who truly wanted to

understand racism and how it affected the blacks. Griffen began to

research the rise of suicide tendencies in Southern blacks. However,

he realizes that it is very difficult to collect useful information

because "the Southern Negro will not tell the white man the truth",

(Griffen, pg.12). The reason the blacks would not speak to him is

because he is white and whites were ultimately the driving force

behind 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 to

speak to them, and decided that "the only way to observe what it was

like to be black, was to become black", (Griffen, pg.21). Griffen, now

disguised convincingly as a black man, was able to observe racism from

a different perspective. Griffen observed how he was treated among his

"fellow" blacks in order to attain his examination of racism. "A

pleasant young Negro woman took my order and fixed my breakfast…The

man at the counter turned toward me and smiled, as though he wanted to

talk", (Griffen, pg.23). This proves that it is the white's and the

black's implanted and prohibiting fear that ultimately makes their

minds up about the opposite race. If Griffen were still white, there

is no doubt that the woman and the man would not have been so pleasant

and open towards him. He observed the fact that just because he was

black, like them, that they felt content and safe speaking and

interacting with him. Griffen then continues to board a bus.