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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
I'm glad I read this, but it's definitely of its time. Something like this could only happen in 1959.
On the one hand, it's interesting to hear a deep theoretical understanding of structural oppression from a mid-century white guy, on the other hand the naïvety of the author of real world situations is striking.
On the one hand, it's interesting to hear a deep theoretical understanding of structural oppression from a mid-century white guy, on the other hand the naïvety of the author of real world situations is striking.
This was a book club book. As an older, non fiction book, the writing was a bit hard to get through for a younger modern reader. While at the time this experiment was obviously necessary and ground breaking, I was still uncomfortable at how quickly Griffin saw himself as a black man when he still had privileges many did not (for example, the ability to leave as soon as he felt too uncomfortable). I also found it interesting how many of the situations he felt unsafe in are still applicable to women today (being alone with strangers, being sexually harassed, feeling the need to be polite). Regardless, a very interesting read.
A story that's worth hearing - but the narrative style was not for me.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
dark
informative
fast-paced
As a black person I obviously don’t need a white person to explain the Black experience to me, but to read this story was still very interesting and I understand why it’s considered required reading in the US.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
Anyone else here because they're re-watching 'Boy Meets World' of which this book is mentioned?
This was a truly fascinating concept that would have given Griffin just a taste of what life would have been like as a black person in the age of segregation. As someone who never experienced the extremities of segregation, this is mind-blowing to me that this was a thing in early history. There is no way that he would ever be able to experience exactly what black people went through though.
This was a truly fascinating concept that would have given Griffin just a taste of what life would have been like as a black person in the age of segregation. As someone who never experienced the extremities of segregation, this is mind-blowing to me that this was a thing in early history. There is no way that he would ever be able to experience exactly what black people went through though.
I want to give it more stars but I just can't. Did I learn something? Definitely. Was it interesting? Yes. I found myself thinking about it while not reading it. On the other hand, I found myself bored and wanted it to be done. So conflicted :)