Review by Choice Review
In print continuously in various editions since its original publication in 1961, Black Like Me is the extraordinary story of Griffin, a white Texan who in 1959 took some capsules (prescribed by a dermatologist), exposed himself to ultraviolet light under a sunlamp, and stained his skin to make himself appear darker. In this condition, he traveled in the Deep South and "passed" as black for a month, experiencing what it was like to be perceived and treated as a black man. Griffin sought work, but was always told there was nothing for him. He confided his secret to a shoeshine man in New Orleans, who helped him. As a "black" man, Griffin was denied service at hotels and restaurants, denied a drink of water at white establishments, not permitted to use restrooms. In every instance, he had to find a facility for "Negroes." One white man asked him to expose himself so that he could satisfy his curiosity about the legendary size of black men's genitalia. Other whites inquired about black sexuality or boasted to him of exploits with black women. Griffin's account confirmed that blacks endured debasing, second-class treatment. An important and classic work, well deserving of this new edition. ^BSumming Up: Essential. All public/academic levels/libraries. W. Glasker Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Griffin's (The Devil Rides Outside) mid-century classic on race brilliantly withstands both the test of time and translation to audio format. Concerned by the lack of communication between the races and wondering what "adjustments and discriminations" he would face as a Negro in the Deep South, the late author, a journalist and self-described "specialist in race issues," left behind his privileged life as a Southern white man to step into the body of a stranger. In 1959, Griffin headed to New Orleans, darkened his skin and immersed himself in black society, then traveled to several states until he could no longer stand the racism, segregation and degrading living conditions. Griffin imparts the hopelessness and despair he felt while executing his social experiment, and professional narrator Childs renders this recounting even more immediate and emotional with his heartfelt delivery and skillful use of accents. The CD package includes an epilogue on social progress, written in 1976 by the author, making it suitable for both the classroom and for personal enlightenment. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
In 1959, Griffin, a noted white journalist, decided to try an experiment. He felt that the only way to determine the truth about how African Americans were treated by whites, and to learn if there was discrimination, was to become one. After a series of medical treatments that darkened his skin, he began his travels in the Deep South. Made up primarily of his journal entries during that time, Black Like Me, read by Ray Childs, details the experiences he had while passing for black. He finds that the people who saw him as white days earlier would not give him the time of day. He suffered even more as he rode buses in New Orleans, discovering how whites would no longer sit next to him. Listeners will be fascinated by his bus trip to Mississippi during which the driver would not let any of the African Americans off at a rest stop and how some of the passengers decided to deal with this slight. A fascinating view of life before the heyday of the Civil Rights movement, showing the difficulties of being black in America. For all libraries.-Danna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-John Howard Griffin's groundbreaking and controversial novel about his experiences as a white man who transforms himself with the aid of medication and dye in order to experience firsthand the life of a black man living in the Deep South in the late 1950s is a mesmerizing tale of the ultimate sociological experiment. Ray Childs' narration is both straightforward and deeply satisfying. A skilled reader, he incorporates different dialects to help listeners distinguish among the various characters. His ability to convey a full spectrum of emotions, including exhilaration, bone deep sadness, and gut wrenching fear is riveting. Equally fascinating is Childs' description of how Griffin's unheard of approach to studying racial discrimination changed his personal life and ignited a storm of argument and discussion around the nation. This recording deserves a place in every public library collection.-Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What's happened since Black Like Me was published in 19607 In an epilogue to this second edition, Griffin describes his continued involvement in the civil rights movement of the Sixties. As part of a loose confederation of public advocates, he traveled widely, often as a kind of consultant to cities which blindly overlooked the talents of their own black citizens. Still skeptical of those rumors about outside agitators, he witnessed and experienced considerable harassment, especially from law enforcement officials. In scanning the legislation, flare-ups, and leadership changes of those years, he notes the disengagement of whites who felt rejected and identifies the most recent development, the black drift toward separatism as a response to entrenched condescension and indifference to racism. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
