Black Like Me

By: John Howard Griffin

Narrated by: Ray Childs

Writer John Howard Griffin (1920-1980) decided to perform an experiment in order to learn from the inside out how one race could withstand the second class citizenship imposed on it by another race. Through medication, he dyed his skin dark and left his family and home in Texas to find out.

The setting is the Deep South in 1959. What began as scientific research ended up changing his life in every way imaginable. When he decided the real story was in his journals, he published them, and the storm that followed is now part of American history.

As performed by Ray Childs, this first-ever recording of Black Like Me will leave each listener deeply affected. John Howard Griffin did the impossible to help bring the full effect of racism to the forefront of America's conscience.

©1989 Elizabeth Griffin-Bonazzi, Susan Griffin-Campbell, John H. Griffin, Jr., Gregory P. Griffin, and Amanda Griffin-Sanderson; 1960, 1961, 1977 John Howard Griffin (P)2004 Audio Bookshelf

Critic reviews

"No one can read it without suffering." (Dallas Morning News)
"Only the coldest of hearts could be unaffected by this story, told with dignity and warmth, conviction and steadfast honesty. Audiobooks like this can help heal wounds and open minds about racism, an issue our nation still struggles with." (AudioFile)

Black Like Me

Excellect, the best book i have read for years. It shows how far we have come in such a short time but it also shows how much further we have to go.

The book is a must not only for Americans (I am not American) becuase the world must stop judging and start embracing.

Important read

A glimpse into the life of a white man living as a black man in the South in 1959. A vital and rare depiction of the experience of racism, from a first-person privileged perspective. Interesting and intense; well performed.

Brilliant

I have got two words for this book; Just brilliant. I would recommend it to anybody

Same old struggle

This is a memoir of John Griffin's experience where he experienced what it was like to be African American in the 50s. He used medicine to make his skin appear darker and tried to observe how he was treated differently. It's a pretty eye opening even in today's standards how different for African Americans and just the overall sense of hopelessness. The part that was the most troubling for me is that we struggle with many issues today. A worthwhile read for everyone and should be shared in all high school curriculums.

There were moments when the writing got a little wandery. But overall it's a good read and I highly recommend it.

black like me

This was an eye opening book. I thought I read it as a teenager, however, there were some things I didn't remember. If more whites would walk in the shoes of a black man, oh, the changes we would see. They would have a nervous breakdown.