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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
The afterward in the second addition improved my impression and redeemed it some.
To begin with, I'm rather dubious that a white person could believably darken their skin enough to pass for a black person. But apparently it actually happened, so okay. Anyway I was prepared to (a la 'stuff white people like') be offended on behalf of black people. But even reading it and looking for ways to be offended, the book didn't provide many. (That being said - perhaps it is horribly offensive that a white man essentially assumed black face, lived in it for a couple months, and then presumed to speak for the entire race. But as a white person, that's not something I can speak to). The epilogue to the book was particularly enlightening - Griffin seemed to be aware of white privilege before it was ever termed as such. He seemed to know his place within the civil rights movement and understood that it was more important for blacks to take the reins, and was embarrassed when he had to. Perhaps it was faux modesty, but doesn't seem like it. In the end, a hard, unpleasant read, but still an important one that rings true today. In fact, certain passages - particularly about racists using religion to justify their beliefs - are painfully relevant to our own times.
Honestly, this book should be required reading. Although it was written in 1959, there’s so much that is still relevant today. Make sure you read a version that has the epilogue written in the 70s.
Excellent and amazing. I remember hearing about this book when I was in college or high school and always thought it was a novel. Floored by the fact that is real.
I picked up this book at a flea market years ago as a book I should read, but didn't get around to it until this week. Yes, it is dated, but no, it is not dated. Just think of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri in the second half of 2014. Or any of a number of headline incidents in the past few years in the United States. I read a few reviews before starting my review. Yes, the author is a white man in reality, but at the time, how else were such tales to be told? The daily life of many people as described in this book was a constant clash with racism. The episodes of racism as described are pretty awful even when they are just about "looks of hatred". The question is how many people had their minds changed by this book. Would a racist change his or her mind and show remorse for earlier actions? I think not. The book serves as a tool to educate. It is unfortunately still a valid read.
Coincidentally, I read this while in the middle of reading "Americanah". Reading some of that book's discussions about race sort of accentuated the reading about racism in this book. I read an old Signet paperback version. At the back was a list of other similar books of the time (1961) including Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man", James Baldwin's "Go Tell It on the Mountain", Richard Wright's "Native Son", and Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". I have already checked out "Invisible Man" from the library...
Coincidentally, I read this while in the middle of reading "Americanah". Reading some of that book's discussions about race sort of accentuated the reading about racism in this book. I read an old Signet paperback version. At the back was a list of other similar books of the time (1961) including Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man", James Baldwin's "Go Tell It on the Mountain", Richard Wright's "Native Son", and Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". I have already checked out "Invisible Man" from the library...
I can understand how this book was such an uproar in the 60s. I appreciate Griffins bravery and hutzpah to really ‘walk a mile...’. What saddens me, in reading this, I continue to realize we have not come as far as we like to celebrate. If I recognize some of Griffins anecdotes in today’s reality, then we have not come too far. I’m very glad to have read this book. It was scathing then, its confirmed now.
Absolutely floored at how relevant this book still is in spite of being published almost sixty years ago. Over and over I found myself saying “BUT IT’S STILL LIKE THAT.” or... “YES! THIS IS WHAT WHITE PEOPLE STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND.”
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I don't know how much value this book holds for the modern reader. I believe you could get much more insightful (and current) looks into racism in the US than Black Like Me, books that were written by people who've had to live with racism their whole lives rather just taking a tourist's glimpse at the realties of being black in America. It's funny really, at the beginning of the book Griffin defends his work, saying that one cannot dismiss it for being written by a white man, insisting he is giving the full picture. Then he continuously reveals how very much this book isn't written by someone who truly knows the black experience. For instance, he repeatedly tries to give white people excuses even when they say the most monstrous things like when a man admits to rapping his black female employees and Griffen tries to imagine the man with his grandchildren rather than allowing himself to realize the full horror of the man's actions.
The only thing that was truly useful about this book today is the stark demonstration of how little has changed when it comes to t institutional racism built into our systems. Sure, people no longer have to worry about finding a fountain or restroom that is assigned to their race but the economic and social pressures designed to prevent equality are very much alive and well.
The only thing that was truly useful about this book today is the stark demonstration of how little has changed when it comes to t institutional racism built into our systems. Sure, people no longer have to worry about finding a fountain or restroom that is assigned to their race but the economic and social pressures designed to prevent equality are very much alive and well.
"Turning off all the lights, I went into the bathroom and closed the door. I stood in the darkness before the mirror, my hand on the light switch. I forced myself to flick it on. In the flood of light against white tile, the face and shoulders of a stranger - a fierce, bald, very dark Negro - glared at me from the glass. He in no way resembled me."