Black Like Me

Rating:
Summary: A compelling story about the cruelty of our human nature
Review: How far would you go in order to see life from another person's perspective? Of course all of us would change if it meant that we would have a better life, but how many of us would put ourselves in a new lifestyle that would station us at the bottom of the social and economic system? John Howard, the author of Black Like Me, did just this. He found a way to change his skin pigmentation so that it was dark. He went down to the deep south during the late 1950's. This was a time of great oppression, humiliation, and segregation of colored people. This book follows his life before, after and during his life changing activities. We see people who are sympathetic to blacks and we see people who are ready to kill every last colored person alive. This book was truly moving and yet it was saddening. I suggest this book to anyone who thinks they have a grip on reality, because this book is sure to shake them up a little bit.

Rating:
Summary: Impossible to ignore
Review: "Black Like Me" has remained in print all of these years because of the sheer audacity of its undertaking and its bold reality that slaps you square in the face. Author John Howard Griffin had a doctor chemically treat his skin to a dark brown, appearing to the naked eye to be an African-American. When the treatments were completed the doctor examined the transformed patient and said, "now you enter the abyss." Those were prophetic words. Griffin must first deal with his own unexpected racism - looking at his new self in a mirror and being filled with revulsion. Then he set out into the southland and experienced the indignities of segregation first hand. The book is an adventure, a travel narrative, and a first rate sociological study and an expose that rips the roof off. It was not a theory that John Howard Griffin faced, it was a condition, one of his own choosing that changed his life just as this book has changed the lives of many more. When he undertook this task the author thought it would become an obscure sociological or anthropological study. Instead it has become a classic testament about the America in which we still live. A lively narrative that is easy to read in just a few sittings or less and you will probably be compelled to do so once you begin.

Rating:
Summary: outstanding book, and everyone should read Black like me
Review: I choose to read this book because of the title and found myself reading a great book. I feel that everyone should read this book because it talks about alot of important things that may still need to be addressed. From this book, I can see how much a positive change the world has made in the racisim issues,but it also made me aware of things we still as a world need to change. I think what John Howard Griffin did was outstanding. I also believe that by me reading this book it has changed me. My personal opinion of the book is that, it's one of the top 10 best books and maybe thats because I am a black teenager but I don't have any negative comments. I would like to not only congratulate John Howard Griffin on his success but thank him as well.

Rating:
Summary: Great Ideal
Review: John Griffin, a white man darkens his skin to make himself black, in the 1960's to see what it was like for a black person, in the south. He quicky realizes the harsh treatments that black people had to take from racist whites.

Rating:
Summary: A gripping account.
Review: I live in the midst of Detroit, a white male, and I cannot imagine the horrors that this book reveal. It's an astounding read. Buy it. It's an eye opener to the way things WERE in the old south (still are in some respects) ~Andy

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read for every American
Review: This book gave me a totally different view on what the Deep South was like in the 1950's, so I deeply enjoyed it. Anyone who might enjoy a historical non-fiction novel of America, or is integued by African-American history would absolutly LOVE this book.

Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: if you question the civil rights movement or anything pertaining to racial bias, you should read this book. It is a clear example from first hand knowledge about how an African American man is treated in the deep south during the civil rights movement. The historical and emotional aspect of this book makes it one of the best books I have ever read and this should be required reading for ALL high schools in the US.

Rating:
Summary: Superb and moving book
Review: This is a superb and moving book. Once read, it will always stay with you.
Please read the review of Melynie Withington below -- she describes the book very well.

Rating:
Summary: Mandatory Reading!!!
Review: Black Like Me should be in every high school classroon in America
It is without a doubt one of the most signifigant works of our time. I grew up in the south - the deep south as an only child of a middle class white family. Needless to say, works of this type were not required reading at my high school. I am now a junior in college studying history w/teaching credentials. In MY classroom Black Like Me WILL be read and its message will be discussed.If you havent read this powerful, honest look at America in the 1950s, buy it today! You'll thank me latter.

Rating:
Summary: Changing Your Apperance
Review: Black Like Me written by John Howard Griffin was a very captivating novel. It brought to many people's attention the extream condition of segregation, and discrimination. Griffins way of getting into this inside world was something that no one had ever done, this in my eyes took a lot of guts and not to mention research. Like a few other authors Griffins way of explaining this owrld to his readers was astonishing. Griffins use of dialect and blending in with the local color was the first think that cought the readers attention. Right away to blend in with the Black community Griffin took on their dialect, he began using slang and other forms of speech. Also he started to blend in culturaly, Griffin attempted to find the places in the French Quarter of New Orleans where the locals went. This right away brought me into the story because it made it so real and life like, you almost forgot that he was originally white and just assuming a role to get a story.
Another interesting part of John Howard Griffins novel was his ability to define sybolism. He would find little things along the way that would mean something to him, and even in the end he would never forget them. For example the shoe-shiner who on the first day of Griffins being in New Orleans made him feel right at home by sharing with him the little food he had with him and teaching him how to grill it. To Griffin this symbolized the black communities ability to allow any person in to their culture unlike the white who shuned that kind of behavior. This showed how well Griffin was at looking at things deeply which helped the reader to further understand what was going on in Griffins novel.
Finally John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me showed realism extreamly well. He was able to take a story plot that most people could not think of being real. I mean come on, someone dying their skin to become black and blend in with their culture, ya right. But Griffin did, and did it well. It was almost too beleivable, he fit in like a real black man visiting on vacation. He acted like the townspeople, spoke like them and yes looked like them too. He looked so much like a black person that when he went home his family could not recognize him, and his neighbors began to treat him poorly because they believed he was black. I have never read anything as amazing as this novel.
John Howard Griffin I believe started a revolution and helped further the compleation of the civil rights movement by proving to people further just how bad our society had gotten about discrimination. I belieave that everyone should read this book to get a new perspective on minority groups. This book will amaze everyone who reads it