“John Howard Griffin, the author and main character of Black Like Me, is a white man living in Mansfield, Texas in 1959. He does not understand why the world is so corrupt with racism, and hate toward the black race. He decides to take action, trying to better understand the differences between the white and black culture. He decides to consult a doctor about changing the color of his skin, so he can know what it is like going through life as a black man. He wanted to travel to the southern sates, because they were said to be the most racist states, to know how hard it can be being black. He contacted his friend in New Orleans named Sterling Williams and lived with him for some time. Griffin told Williams that if he ever just left with out notice do not worry, for he did not want to involve Williams in what he was doing. Once Griffin has made his transformation he is scared with the person he meets in the mirror.
Griffin knows what he is getting into when he walks out of his house, but he finds out that it will be much harder than he could ever imagine. He hears racist names and remarks everywhere he goes. Sometimes it was so bad he couldn’t even find a restroom to use. Owners of local stores would not let blacks use the restroom if they didn’t buy anything. Eventually Griffin decides to take journey farther into Mississippi and Alabama.
John Howard Griffin returned home to publish his work. He was hated! No one in his community supported what he had done. He was only trying to bring light to the fact to the injustice of the world at the time. He was more courageous than any man in his community, but was still hated. Finally the harassment was so bad that Griffin and his family moved to Mexico to live a peaceful life.
This book showed me what it would have been like living in the 1960’s. Blacks were hated only for the color of their skin. Having to go though life hated for that would have been horrible. I recommend this book only for someone with an open mind, and must be willing to accept the truth about racial injustice.”
Logan W wrote this review Sunday, May 11 2008.
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