John Griffin Flood Of Light Against White

Whether you are black, white, pink, purple, or striped with polka dots, we all bleed the same color. John Howard Griffin, an author and journalist from Texas, was committed to creating racial justice in a conflict filled country. Disgruntled with his inability to comprehend this issue as a white man, Griffin became publicly known for his project in which he changed the color of his skin through medical procedure and ventured into the Southern United States in 1959, an attempt to see the segregated world from the contrary. On this six-week expedition through the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Arkansas, Griffin documents his experiences of dreadful treatment from whites, being that they now see him as a member of the

This device is paramount in writing, in that it engages the audience while simultaneously conveying the predominant message. To emphasize his astonishing appearance change after the medical procedure, Griffin makes use of this tool and states, “In the flood of light against white tile, the face and shoulders of a stranger - a fierce, bald, very dark Negro - glared at me from the glass. He in no way resembled me. The transformation was total and shocking” (Griffin 12). By using visual imagery the author draws specific attention to the fact that although he is still the same being, his appearance has completely altered his identity. This example aids the audience in understanding that racism in itself is nonsensical and cruel. A man who is well-respected by his white peers, a man who is forcefully abused by his white peers, they are the same man with a different skin color. Through this experiment and the use of visual imagery used to describe its effects, Griffin draws back a curtain of deception for the audience to see the truths behind racial prejudice in the United

By utilizing this form of repetition, the author can reinforce an idea that is intended to stick with the audience throughout. Anaphora makes the phrase intriguing, and encourages spending more time examining the meaning of it rather than overlooking it. Griffin explains that racism is often hidden beneath the semblance of nationalism and religion, and that many people at this time felt that those who opposed racism opposed what they upheld. He employs anaphora in this explanation by claiming, “We were advocating one thing: that this country rid itself of the racism that prevented some citizens from living as fully functioning men and as a result dehumanized all men. We were advocating only that this country live up to its promises to all citizens” (Griffin 167). Through repetition of the first three words, Griffin makes it clear that his mission is to push the United States to remain true to the Declaration of Independence, by making “all men are created equal” a true statement. Thus, the audience recognizes that not all men are truly created equal, and this can only be changed if the population puts their racial prejudices aside and gives every person an equal opportunity to succeed in