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

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.

Ball State University (BSU) Summer Project 1965

Would you consider the audio edition of Black Like Me to be better than the print version?

Yes, I have been offering to my book club members and every person of color who I am associated with in my personal and professional life.It was a Summer Reading for freshman at BSU in Muncie Indiana. I went to an all white school in Indianapolis. I do not recall much racism up to that point. Mostly encounters with Blacks were with two of the High Schools in Indy that had integrated and at sport events.

What did you like best about this story?

The author's experiences within the Black community as a Black stranger in the community seemed to be the same as in any white community. There were friendly people who helped, and good and bad example of members of the community. The BIG difference was how he was treated by the White community as a Black person. It opened my eye back then to what it was like to be treated as inferior without cause.I did pledge a Fraternity there and the racism was clearly present even among the athletes. Those uncomfortable moments were in the form of jokes and references to people I did not know.

What about Ray Childs’s performance did you like?

Cared the story well and keep me involved.

If you could give Black Like Me a new subtitle, what would it be?

The book is 35+/- years old. Black and White people should look at the facts in 1959 and compare them to now. We are making progress. Keep working toward Dr. King's dream.

Any additional comments?

The strife in the US today is heart breaking and show the road is long. Each incident that bring us closer to a understanding of the basic fact "we are all humans" and we are where we are and who we are because of what we have done so far.
Let's all commit to some improvement of the situation.