A Review of The Book Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Introduction

The book titled Black Like Me was written by John Howard Griffin, who, in this case, plays the role of the author and main character in the book. He was a white man who lived in Mansfield, Texas, back in 1959. He was against racism in the South and wanted to conduct a social experiment to expose to the country and the world how the black community was treated. For that, he underwent a treatment to darken his skin color. He traveled to New Orleans, where he had a contact in the black community who helped him undergo the ultraviolet light and oral treatment. That’s where his experience of living as a black man started. After his first experience in New Orleans, John traveled throughout Alabama and Mississippi, where he proved repeatedly that the black community was living miserably, and they were treated as if they were not part of society and more like slaves. He stopped taking his medications at times and went from black to white and vice-versa, and he concluded that conditions for blacks were appalling and that the black community seemed to feel defeated. Except in Montgomery, where they had started practicing passive resistance, a nonviolent form of refusing to comply with racist laws and rules. Finally, in Atlanta, he conducted a series of interviews with black leaders before returning to New Orleans to make photographic records of his time there. Since his social experiment had come to an end, he returned to his normal skin color and went back home, where he would write his article, which he published in March 1960. In the end, although he was congratulated, his family became subject to hateful reprisals and received threats, which made him move with his family to Mexico (Griffin, 1961).

A Review of The Book Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

Analysis of Content

Overall, I think this was a great book not only because of how well it was written but also because it is in the first person, which makes it more interesting and reliable since it is a primary source of information in its most original form. The journey of John Griffin started in 1959, back when the level of racism was incredibly high for the African American community. They were treated miserably according to Griffin’s experience, “When they paid me, they looked as though I were a stone or a post. They looked and saw nothing” (Griffin, 1961, p. 45). They were seen as unworthy people, “Though not all, by any means, were so open about their purposes, all of them showed us how they felt about the Negro, the idea that was people of such low morality that nothing could offend us” (Griffin, 1961, p. 62).

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the strengths of this book is that the plot is very engaging. There is unfairness throughout the entire book, just as people are seeking and trying to find ways to finally treat everybody equally no matter the race. There is a part in the book where Griffin and Mr. Gayle, a New Orleans civic leader and bookstore owner, have a conversation about what’s the cure for all of this? Mr. Gayle answers, “Equal job opportunities, that’s the answer to much of the tragedy of our young people” (Griffin, 1961, p. 102). This conversation highlights the systemic barriers faced by the black community, emphasizing the need for structural changes.

As for the weaknesses, I cannot find any. The book is solid, simple, easy to follow, interesting, and very informative. You can learn so much by reading this book about how life was back in the 1950s for black people. For example, in the book, John talks to a young boy who is in his first year at Dillard University; after a brief conversation, the young boy says, “No, I’ve seen many make brilliant grades in college. And even when they graduate, it’s a long hard pull. Most take postal jobs or teaching jobs” (Griffin, 1961, p. 87). Once again, we see an example of unequal opportunities.

Writing Style

As for the writing style, John Griffin uses a lot of imagery and contrasting to transport us to the scene. “I lay there watching moonlight pour through the crack of the ill-fitting door as everyone drifted to sleep. Mosquitoes droned loudly until the room was a great hum. I wondered what they should be out on such a cold night” (Griffin, 1961, p. 56). Describing the scene this deeply can hook you very easily into the reading, which is a big plus for John’s writing style. The vivid descriptions allow readers to immerse themselves in the experience, enhancing the emotional impact of the narrative.

Conclusion

I would recommend this book for anybody because even if racism was at an extreme level back then, it does not mean it’s gone. Racism still exists today, and I feel like this book can change a person’s perspective. It motivated the Civil Rights movement back when it was published. Overall, it is a great book that continues to resonate with readers, reminding us of the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing racial injustices.

References

• Griffin, J. H. (1961). Black Like Me. Houghton Mifflin.