Racism was a massive problem that John Howard Griffin tried to bring knowledge to during the 1960’s. Griffin was a race specialist who realized he had no idea what racism really was. He was a white upper class citizen who’s job included understanding what racism was. Griffin decided to come up with an experiment that could help him understand what it was like to live a day in an African American’s life. Little did Griffin know that this experiment would change his life forever. !
! Griffin’s experiment started in Texas during the year of 1959. Griffin made a terrifying discovery when he realized that he had to “walk into a life that appeared suddenly mysterious and frightening. With my decision to become a Negro i realized that I, a specialist …show more content…
When Griffin was in New Orleans he was shown a story about a racial case in Poplarville, Mississippi. This case involved a black man, whose name was Mack Parker, getting lynched and an all white jury refused to the white men who did this to him guilty. Griffin soon realized that Mississippi had the reputation of being far worse for racism than New Orleans. Griffin decided to take a bus to Mississippi, but while he was on the bus he experienced exactly what a Negro goes through on a daily basis. While the bus stopped in a small town for a break the whites were allowed to get off the bus to stretch their legs or go to the bathroom and such, while the blacks were forced to remain on the bus. When Griffin told the driver that he would like to go to the bathroom the driver replied with “ I can't be bothered rounding up all you people when we get ready to go.” This struck Griffin making him realize that it was the simple privileges that really kept racism going. …show more content…
When Griffin arrives in Mississippi he is taken to a Negro college. While he is there Griffin discovers that there are upcoming elections in Mississippi and racist whites are tiring to restrain blacks from voting. After Griffin learns this he decided to take a bus to the inner part of Mississippi to try to find out how racist whites really are. In one town in Mississippi Griffin learns that Negros are not allowed to use public benches. Griffin could not stand the racism so he decided to start walking from town to town. White people began to pick him up while he was walking down the highway. Griffin soon made the discovery that they only picked him up so they could question him about his sexuality. Griffin was always looking for a place to stay and one night a very friendly preacher took him home and offered to let him stay with him as long as he liked. Griffin took this preacher up on his offer and stayed there for a couple days. Griffin took note on how blacks could by regular candy bars from a convenient store but they could not buy soda from a soda fountain. He also learned how some white workers will never hire a black man. When Griffin asked a foreman in Mobile, Alabama for a job and told him that he could do a better job , and he would have to pay him less than a white man the foreman replied with “we don’t want you people. We’re gradually getting you people weeded out from the better jobs at this plant. We’re taking it slow, but we’re doing it.” Griffin felt
! Griffin’s experiment started in Texas during the year of 1959. Griffin made a terrifying discovery when he realized that he had to “walk into a life that appeared suddenly mysterious and frightening. With my decision to become a Negro i realized that I, a specialist …show more content…
When Griffin was in New Orleans he was shown a story about a racial case in Poplarville, Mississippi. This case involved a black man, whose name was Mack Parker, getting lynched and an all white jury refused to the white men who did this to him guilty. Griffin soon realized that Mississippi had the reputation of being far worse for racism than New Orleans. Griffin decided to take a bus to Mississippi, but while he was on the bus he experienced exactly what a Negro goes through on a daily basis. While the bus stopped in a small town for a break the whites were allowed to get off the bus to stretch their legs or go to the bathroom and such, while the blacks were forced to remain on the bus. When Griffin told the driver that he would like to go to the bathroom the driver replied with “ I can't be bothered rounding up all you people when we get ready to go.” This struck Griffin making him realize that it was the simple privileges that really kept racism going. …show more content…
When Griffin arrives in Mississippi he is taken to a Negro college. While he is there Griffin discovers that there are upcoming elections in Mississippi and racist whites are tiring to restrain blacks from voting. After Griffin learns this he decided to take a bus to the inner part of Mississippi to try to find out how racist whites really are. In one town in Mississippi Griffin learns that Negros are not allowed to use public benches. Griffin could not stand the racism so he decided to start walking from town to town. White people began to pick him up while he was walking down the highway. Griffin soon made the discovery that they only picked him up so they could question him about his sexuality. Griffin was always looking for a place to stay and one night a very friendly preacher took him home and offered to let him stay with him as long as he liked. Griffin took this preacher up on his offer and stayed there for a couple days. Griffin took note on how blacks could by regular candy bars from a convenient store but they could not buy soda from a soda fountain. He also learned how some white workers will never hire a black man. When Griffin asked a foreman in Mobile, Alabama for a job and told him that he could do a better job , and he would have to pay him less than a white man the foreman replied with “we don’t want you people. We’re gradually getting you people weeded out from the better jobs at this plant. We’re taking it slow, but we’re doing it.” Griffin felt