"Black Like Me" is a non-fiction novel written by John Howard Griffin and published in 1961. The book tells the true story of Griffin, a white journalist from Texas, who undergoes medical treatment to temporarily darken his skin and experiences segregation and racism firsthand as a black man in the Deep South during the late 1950s.
Griffin's journey begins when he decides to investigate the everyday lives of black Americans and the racial tensions that exist in the South. To do this, he seeks the help of a dermatologist who agrees to treat Griffin's skin with a medication that will temporarily darken his skin tone. After the treatment, Griffin sets out on a journey through the Deep South, traveling through Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.
As a black man, Griffin faces discrimination and segregation at every turn. He is denied service at restaurants and hotels, and he is even arrested for refusing to leave a "whites only" waiting room at a bus station. Despite these challenges, Griffin remains determined to understand and document the experiences of black Americans.
Throughout his journey, Griffin meets a variety of people, including both black and white individuals who are affected by racism in different ways. He also observes the violent treatment of black Americans by white authorities, such as the brutal beating of civil rights activists in Mississippi.
Despite the challenges he faces, Griffin's journey ultimately leads him to a deeper understanding of the racial tensions and injustices that exist in the South. He becomes an advocate for civil rights and works to bring attention to the struggles of black Americans.
Overall, "Black Like Me" is a powerful and poignant exploration of racism and segregation in the United States. Griffin's personal journey serves as a testament to the struggles faced by black Americans during this time, and his story remains relevant today as we continue to grapple with issues of racial inequality and injustice.
Black Like Me
The discrimination worked both ways, blacks stay away from whites and vice versa. It is a most opportune work that explores national identity and denies racial segregation of the time. 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. Ray Sprigle described his experience in his 1949 book In the Land of Jim Crow. It answered some questions I've always wanted to know, for example how did racist Christians justify their racism? I know that racism was a big problem in the South but I was still shocked to read how pervasive it was and what extreme forms it took. 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. Readers taking up this modestly sized book for the first time may find it stirring in its simplicity.
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When the bus stops and the driver lets the white passengers off to use the bathroom and stretch their legs, Bill slips out, too, and though the driver calls at him to return, he pretends not to hear. And of course, people of colour still have their lives deeply and horrifically affected by discrimination and racism, especially institutional racism. I must admit that its original impact was lost on me at times because I expected many of Griffin's experiences as a white man disguised as a black man in 1959. As a result, a group of racists hang a dummy of him in the middle of Mansfield. I can't say enough good things about this book.
Black Like Me Study Guide
The legacy Today, some might question the wisdom and legitimacy of a white man trying to show the African-American experience. Griffin did what he did. He did not have to suffer the despair of knowing his situation would probably never change. At this point, Griffin discusses the project with his wife, and once she agrees, he meets with several local police officers before he goes. Thankfully, though, he survived, though he died only five years later due to a struggle against diabetes.
"Black Like Me" Book by John Howard Griffin
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. Could he really experience the same feelings and emotions a black man does? And still, the question arises, how successful was that try. Black Like Me is a painful read. Some had hoped it would come after the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Mo. Griffin did not suffer nearly as much as Blacks do because he knew that at the end of this experiment, he would return to life as a white man with all its privileges. On a bus trip, Griffin began to give his seat to a white woman, but disapproving looks from black passengers stopped him. The soft, warm light and faint fragrance of incense give an impression of peace and calm.
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
In a 1975 essay included in later editions of the book, he recounted encountering hostility and threats to him and his family in his hometown of In 1964, while stopped with a flat tire in Mississippi, Griffin was assaulted by a group of white men and beaten with chains, an assault attributed to the book. He left behind his wife and daughter. The fact that this book had such strong feedback proves that the issues it studies were crucial for the society of that time. With tremendous eloquence, Griffin conveys the despair and fear that he felt as he experienced humiliating segregation, discrimination, racism, and demeaning living conditions. That crucial moment is so disconcerting! Meanwhile, the driver sends Griffin and the other black passengers back to their seats, refusing to let them off.
