John Howard Griffin
John Howard Griffin was an American author and social activist, born in Dallas, Texas, in 1920. He had a diverse educational background, studying in France where he engaged in music therapy for the mentally ill and served as a medic in the French Resistance during World War II. After returning to the U.S. and experiencing a life-altering injury that left him blind, Griffin embarked on a writing career, producing notable works such as "The Devil Rides Outside" and "Nuni."
Griffin's most famous work, "Black Like Me," emerged from his transformative decision to alter his appearance to appear African American and travel through the racially segregated Deep South. This groundbreaking narrative, published in 1961, generated significant national attention and sparked discussions on race relations and social justice in America. Despite facing backlash in his home state of Texas, Griffin remained committed to activism and continued writing and lecturing on important social issues until his death in 1980 in Fort Worth, Texas. His life and work continue to resonate in discussions about race and identity.
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Subject Terms
John Howard Griffin
Writer
- Born: June 16, 1920
- Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
- Died: September 9, 1980
- Place of death: Fort Worth, Texas
Biography
John Howard Griffin was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1920. His mother, a classically trained pianist, and father, a radio personality, sent Griffin to study in France at the age of fifteen. In France, Griffin studied French and literature at the University of Poitiers, and later medicine. While in France, he also worked as the assistant to the director of the Asylum of Tours. Working at the asylum, Griffin practiced and studied musical therapy on the mentally insane.
When war erupted in Europe, Griffin became a medic in the French Resistance and helped numerous Jewish children escape. He returned to the United States in 1941 and joined the United States Air Force shortly thereafter. During an attack on Japan, Griffin was injured. Blinded, Griffin returned home and began his career writing.
His first books The Devil Rides Outside and Nuni were published in the early to mid-1950’s. It was also during this time that Griffin converted to Catholicism. He married Elizabeth Ann Holland in 1953, and the couple would eventually have four children. After more than ten years of blindness, Griffin regained his sight in 1957. A few years later Griffin proposed a series of articles to Sepia magazine.
In the months to follow, Griffin physically altered his appearance to look like an African American and traveled through the Deep South recording and reporting on his experiences. The articles ran in Sepia magazine and were republished in 1961 under the title Black Like Me. Black Like Me caught the attention of the entire nation. It won several awards, and Griffin was under consideration for a Nobel Prize for literature, but he did not win it.
Back at home, many Texas locals did not approve of Black Like Me. The pressure caused Griffin and his family to relocate to Mexico for nine months, before he returned to live in Fort Worth. From that point on, Griffin continued to write books. He also became a lecturer on the subjects of race relations and social injustice. He died in Forth Worth, Texas, in 1980.