Canadian journalist Sam Forster is facing significant backlash following the announcement of his self-published book, “Seven Shoulders.” For this project, Forster, a white man, disguised himself as a Black man and traveled across the United States to document racism. Utilizing a blackface disguise, which included a synthetic Afro wig, colored contact lenses, and makeup, Forster hitchhiked through cities such as Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Detroit in September 2023.

Forster, who has written for publications like The National Post and The Spectator, claimed that his book offers an unparalleled perspective on race relations in America. He describes his transformation and experiences in a narrative he believes offers a unique comparative viewpoint. According to the book’s blurb on Amazon, it aims to “taxonomize the various types of racism” that persist in modern America.

Prominent figures have criticized Forster’s methods. Elie Mystal, legal correspondent for The Nation, ridiculed the approach, while Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones was perplexed, opting to say only “No comment” on social media. There have been comparisons to John Howard Griffin’s “Black Like Me,” a 1961 book wherein a white writer also used blackface to explore racism, though responses indicate that many find Forster’s project particularly contentious given the current social climate.

Forster’s book was published on May 30, 2024, by his company, Slaughterhouse Media. Despite numerous requests, Forster has not released images of himself in blackface, citing the offensive nature of such visuals.