Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Black Like Me
Book Review: proof that something relatively minor can pack a punch
Summary: 4 Stars
'Black Like Me' by John Howard Griffin was bombastic when it was first published in the early 1960s. It brazenly articulated the differences on how people, in particular the author, are treated in the Deep South based on the color of their skin. The author had his skin darkened through chemicals and ultraviolet light. He traveled from New Orleans to Atlanta by road (mostly bus) and chronicles how people looked at him differently just because he was black. For a white man he found the experience utterly appalling. It was also staggering how various white men approached the author to discuss very crude sexual matters, thinking that African-Americans are only of any value based on their sexual prowess.
This book should easily be considered five stars by most reviewers. However the book is flawed. The author is not a particularly fine writer; he has a tendency to ramble. And I feel the author has taken some journalist liberties. I wanted more of the facts about people, what they look like, what they said and did, etc. But the author seems to be inconsistent; sometimes he wants to lecture us on racism, other times he delivers a documentary on his travels.
Bottom line: an important and very shocking read. Recommended.
Book Review: the color " Black"
Summary: 5 Stars
Honestly before reading this I use to get mad that there was so much racism around and that I thought that as a mixed woman I had it bad because I had two different colors in me. After reading this you will change your view.
Its starts off that John Griffin decides that he wants to know what it's like to be black and goes to get surgery on his skin color. The doctor doesn't think it will happen but tries it anyway and soon John's skin begins to get darker. He then decides to see what the average white man will do since his color and the opposite of his and turns out to be very disappointed. He tries to by a train ticket in the middle of the book and the things that the people say to him made me shiver. He travels to Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia and still nothing changed. After he collects his data on this mischief he starts to write about it for the newspaper and gradually things changed. You must read this book to find out what really happens. It will make you view our world a different way and make you think about every time you had called someone something mean or were racist towards them. When the book first came out in 1964 there was nothing but controversy about wither they should ban the book or not. Personally Im glad they didn't or I would've never known what respect was. If you haven't read this book yet you should it will teach you a lot about the past and make you appreciate the future.
Book Review: the most important book I've read
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is an incredibly eye-opening, raw, horrifying, and hopeful work. It's a fantastic book in the way it takes you to the deep south and shows the bigotry, kindness, and fear so present in that time period. while it painted a dark picture of what existed in graphic detail, it also gave a fair and surprising account of the good-minded people who felt the injustices should be corrected but didn't have the power or courage to take a stand. They were not vested and the risk was so high. in terms of the author, what an incredibly courageous way to get to the truth given the hostile environment. John Griffin lived the Mark Twain quote: "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.". this is the most important book I've read.