Black Like Me

Rating:
Summary: The ultimate in "walk a mile in their shoes"
Review: The 1980's movie, "Soul Man" uses a premise similar to the basis for this book. In the movie, a white man darkens his skin color so that he can obtain a scholarship to law school that is reserved for blacks. It is a comedy and is very funny, although there is some serious social commentary. John Howard Griffin did the same thing in the late fifties in an attempt to learn the plight of black people in the south. It was a time of extreme racism and he took a great risk in doing so. Once he wrote of his experiences, the most extreme of white racists would target him for death.
It is a very powerful book and is the strongest possible commentary on how absurd racism is. By taking a chemical and changing the color of his skin, he goes from a respected member of society to a demeaned object. You also learn how much power the radical racists had in the south at the time. There were many whites that were disturbed by the intense racism in the south, but were terrified of the potential for violent retribution if they spoke out. Griffin also writes very well about the despair of the blacks and how it manifested itself in many of the behaviors used to justify the perception that they were inferior. It is clear that only the Federal government had the power to destroy racism and the actions taken by the courts to overturn the racist laws will forever rank as one of their finest hours.
I first read this book as a class assignment in high school and have reread it three times since then. Fortunately, we are decades beyond the type of events Griffin writes about. However, these events should never pass from the public consciousness and I strongly encourage everyone to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: This is a clear indicator of what it was like to be African American in the 50's and 60's in the U.S. It is still a good indicator of what it is like in some parts of the U.S. even today. Its a powerful book that people should take a look at.