From the preface of the book, Black Like Me, and the journal entry on October 28th, why did Griffin write this book?

The book begins with Griffin looking at statistics on the suicide rates of blacks in the South. The rates seemed to be rising. Griffin thinks that this is not suicide, but blacks giving up on their ability to live as their situation seems so bleak. He decides that the only way to know is to become a black man. Griffin goes to his friends at Sepia, a black magazine, and asks for their mental and financial support for the project. They agree to fund his trip as long as they may also publish portions of the book in their magazine. After consulting them, Griffin tells his wife of the plan. While she is not thrilled, she feels Griffin must take on the project if he feels he must. Griffin begins his trip in New Orleans.