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A review by amariprice
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
The author was a white man who wanted to know how life was as a black man in the Deep South, so he changed his skin color to become black and traveled the southern states in 1959. He experienced the racism, prejudice, and discrimination first hand.
The fact that this story started (partially at least) because he became totally blind and could only judge people based on their character & qualities rather than their physical appearance is surprising. But even more surprising is he miraculously regained his vision fully.
I did notice throughout the book, Griffin would say things in such a way that provides proof that racism is deeply engrained, even if one is “against” it. For example, when he first looked in the mirror, you can tell he does not see himself on the same level as he saw himself when he was white. He writes it as though he is disgusted by what he sees reflected back at him. Another example is the several times he goes into a black establishment and says something about how clean it was, like he was surprised black people are clean & can take pride in their belongings or spaces.
It was not a shock to see how whites viewed black people at this time, but I definitely was unaware that a lot of their “views” were simply projection. The demonization of black people, accusing them of being violent, and claiming they were hyper-sexual beings, when it was really the whites themselves participating in those acts.
I do wonder what more could have been revealed, especially in Mississippi, if Griffin would’ve stayed longer or been outside even while he was there. Also, it is saddening that he was unable to bare 2 months of being a “black” man.
I also wonder if the black people actually did think he was black, because from what he describes , it sounds as though his disguise was not that convincing. I know the white people wouldn’t look that far into his identity at the time simply because they did not want to be bothered with black people.
The fact that this story started (partially at least) because he became totally blind and could only judge people based on their character & qualities rather than their physical appearance is surprising. But even more surprising is he miraculously regained his vision fully.
I did notice throughout the book, Griffin would say things in such a way that provides proof that racism is deeply engrained, even if one is “against” it. For example, when he first looked in the mirror, you can tell he does not see himself on the same level as he saw himself when he was white. He writes it as though he is disgusted by what he sees reflected back at him. Another example is the several times he goes into a black establishment and says something about how clean it was, like he was surprised black people are clean & can take pride in their belongings or spaces.
It was not a shock to see how whites viewed black people at this time, but I definitely was unaware that a lot of their “views” were simply projection. The demonization of black people, accusing them of being violent, and claiming they were hyper-sexual beings, when it was really the whites themselves participating in those acts.
I do wonder what more could have been revealed, especially in Mississippi, if Griffin would’ve stayed longer or been outside even while he was there. Also, it is saddening that he was unable to bare 2 months of being a “black” man.
I also wonder if the black people actually did think he was black, because from what he describes , it sounds as though his disguise was not that convincing. I know the white people wouldn’t look that far into his identity at the time simply because they did not want to be bothered with black people.