de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception
Journalist
John Howard Griffin published his nonfiction book "Black Like Me" in
1961. The book chronicled his experiences while he was disguised as a
black man for six weeks.
During that time, Griffin traveled on Greyhound buses and sometimes
hitchhiked across the southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
and Georgia.
With the help of a doctor, Griffin, a white man, artificially darkened
his skin. He did not alter his name, occupation or anything else though.
Griffin chronicled his experiences in a 188 page journal in an effort
to document the trials of black people in the south during this
particular time period and did experience discrimination.
After the book was published, Griffin received both positive and
negative reactions. Many people sent him letters of support for his
actions, but he also received a number of threats in his Texas hometown.
He was actually forced to move to Mexico
for several years for his safety. In 1964, the film version of "Black
Like Me" was produced.
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