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Black Like Me Paperback – October 20, 2010
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“One of the deepest, most penetrating documents yet set down on the racial question.”—Atlanta Journal & Constitution
In the Deep South of the 1950’s, a color line was etched in blood across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Journalist John Howard Griffin decided to cross that line. Using medication that darkened his skin to deep brown, he exchanged his privileged life as a Southern white man for the disenfranchised world of an unemployed black man.
What happened to John Howard Griffin—from the outside and within himself—as he made his way through the segregated Deep South is recorded in this searing work of nonfiction. His audacious, still chillingly relevant eyewitness history is a work about race and humanity every American must read.
With an Epilogue by the author
and an Afterword by Robert Bonazzi
- Print length208 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBerkley
- Publication dateOctober 20, 2010
- Reading age13 - 17 years
- Dimensions4.25 x 0.51 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-100451234219
- ISBN-13978-0451234216
- Lexile measure990L
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“A stinging indictment of thoughtless, needless inhumanity. No one can read it without suffering.”—Dallas Morning News
“Black Like Me is a moving and troubling book written by an accomplished novelist. It is a scathing indictment of our society.”—Saturday Review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Berkley; 50th Anniversary ed. edition (October 20, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0451234219
- ISBN-13 : 978-0451234216
- Reading age : 13 - 17 years
- Lexile measure : 990L
- Item Weight : 4.2 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.25 x 0.51 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #56,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #165 in Discrimination & Racism
- #205 in Black & African American Biographies
- #1,901 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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The premise of the story is that a Caucasian writer has seen the hardships of the African American people and chooses to undergo a treatment of medication that will make his skin pigmentation darker so that he can blend in with other African Americans and experience life through their eyes. The book is very eye opening in that you get to see how radical a shift it is for someone to go from one side of the tracks to the other. You get to see how African Americans are mistreated just because of their skin color. You see how they are disallowed privileges to eat at and use the restroom facilities at certain establishments, are denied the right to leave a bus for a break on a long trip, are forced to sit in the back of the bus, are considered sexually promiscuous and more all just because of the skin they were born with. It is really helpful in seeing how hard things really were for them and how they were able to come together and strive on. It was also cool to see how the writer stood up for what he knew was right and chose to put himself and his family in danger to bring the issue of race relations to the fore-front of American media.
HOWEVER, despite the fact that some of these things still do happen, most of these things have come and gone. Some may say that I am wrong, and maybe I am being calloused here, but this book doesn't seem to apply to modern day race relations any more. I asked my friend if any of these things had ever happened to her, but she did say that she still felt that things like this happened in different ways. I would say that this book may be a good way to open yourself up to understanding how to view things from other people's perspective (if you are coming from a Caucasian background), but it is by no means the best material for understanding the situations that face America today. Unfortunately I don't have any other books to recommend at this time, because I myself am still learning more and more on the topic, but I would encourage you to maybe go find something that was written in the past decade at least instead of a book written about 70 years ago.
Ultimately it was a worthwhile read, but if you are looking to enhance your knowledge on modern race-relations I think their may be better sources out there that help you get a better understanding.
If you found this review helpful, then please let me know below. I am trying to figure out how to improve my reviews to aid other Amazon customers and any feedback in the form of likes, dislikes and comments would be appreciated.
As a black woman, I was absolutely repulsived by some of the comments made by white individuals who picked Griffin up on the side of road, but I was amazed at his ability to use his white experience to see the best in these individuals. He saw them as humans acting out an ideology that they truly didn’t understand, and without his desire to truly understand it from the other side by becoming one, he would be just like his white counterparts as he was the weeks before the experiment.
His actions reminded me of a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh titled Recommendation where he says:
“The only thing worthy of you is compassion – invincible, limitless, unconditional.”
He had compassion as a white man in a black mans body. He didn’t embody white guilt to move the collective forward, and I think by these simple actions he truly embodied the bravery of black men and women who looked at their oppressors with love and compassion, and prayed for the healing of their mind while hoping that through love that could drive out the hate.
Good job, John Howard Griffin. In loving memory, thank you for your contributions to society and being on the right side of history.
Summary: Black Like Me is a book written by John Howard Griffin who lived in the United States during the 1950s-60s era when the Civil Rights Movement was in effect. Living in Mansfield, Texas John has heard of the terrible conditions and treatment that African Americans face daily, but he is frustrated at how little he can understand in his own white skin. The truth will always be obscured to a white man, because white men don’t want to acknowledge how poor the treatment of African Americans is. So therefore, John decides to make the color of his skin black. This decision will not only impact his own life, but his family’s life as well. His family is supportive of his decision, and prepares for John’s absence. Along with this, a black magazine named Sepia agreed to fund John’s experience. With the aid of medication, UV light, and skin paint, John undergoes the process of becoming black. Upon looking at himself in the mirror, John doesn’t even recognize himself. He begins his journey in New Orleans and eventually moves down to Mississippi and Alabama which are notorious for their harsh treatment of African Americans. John discovers a whole new side to the world where finding a drink of water is a troubling journey and even being acknowledged by a white person is unheard of. Unspeakable stories and accounts are given by John Howard Griffin in his book Black Like Me. The story of a white man turned into a black man truly depicts the stark differences between appalling differences in treatment based solely on the color of one’s skin. Find out more about John’s experience by reading his book, Black Like Me.
I rate this book a 4/5 Stars.
I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the injustices associated with the treatment of African Americans during the Civil Rights era. It is a riveting book that will challenge you personally and leave you feeling unsettled (in a good way).
Top reviews from other countries
In order to find out what it was really like to be a Black Man in the Deep South at that time John Griffin turned himself into a Negro by means of medicine and a sunray lamp. Not one person suspected that he was not what he appeared to be, although he had to shave his head since he did not have kinky hair.
In this guise, he was able to learn from the Negroes of the South what their daily life was really like. Talking to a white reporter, not one of them would have dared to give their actual views. He was constantly shocked by his contact with white men in the region and their deep-rooted contempt for their black neighbours. He refers constantly to the "hate stare" to which he was subjectd, and also underwent a number of frightening and deeply shocking incidents.
The publication of his experiences after his return had deeply reactions. His account was published both in magazine and in book form. He also gave radio and TV interviews and numerous lectures. Adverse reaction caused him, his family and his elderly parents to move from his hometown in Texas to Mexico. He was also severely beaten up by the Ku Klux Klan and an effigy of him was hung up in the main street of the town where he lived.
The book is still in print and has many relevant points to make on interracial relations. The paperback edition that I bought was published in 2016. It contains photographs of Mr Griffin as a black man.
I was uncertain about such a venture before I started reading the book, but I found it extremely interesting. My only mistake was to take it on a weekend away, as I would not recommend it for light holiday reading! Otherwise I can recommend it unreservedly.
It was written in 1960 and so little has changed. Sad!
Blacks want exactly what whites want. A good job, good pay, a nice home, and a peaceful spot to live with their families. The only difference in our 2 races is our outward colour. Why can't we live in peace together. We can help each other like good neighbours do!








