John H. Griffin's Black Like Me

1190 Words3 Pages

Title: Black Like Me

Author: John Howard Griffin

Genre: Non-Fiction

Copyright: 1976

Publisher: Penguin Books USA Inc.

Pages: 176

Obtained: EKFC Library

Black Like Me is a non-fiction book written by John Howard Griffin about what a black, middle-aged man has to go through every day in the Deep South. To find out what it is like to be a Negro, Griffin changes his skin color to that of a black. During his experiences, Griffin keeps a journal and that is what this book is. Black Like Me is a journal of Griffin's feelings, experiences, pains, and friends.

The setting of Black Like Me is intensely important. The setting starts out on October 28, 1959 in Mansfield, Texas. The setting in Black Like Me is so important because if the setting is any other place than the Southern United States then the plot is completely different. If the setting is in the north, then the issue of racism is not known. It is the south that is dealing with problems of racism. The setting changes a few times due to Griffins moving so much. The setting later moves to New Orleans, Louisiana and then on to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Griffin then travels to Mobile, Alabama and from Mobile to Montgomery, Alabama. From there, Griffin moves to Tuskegee, Alabama and then on to Auburn, Alabama which leads Griffin to Atlanta, Georgia. Griffin travels to New Orleans, Louisiana and finally, to the hometown of Mansfield, Texas. With each different city which Griffin travels to there are different problems, which Griffin must face. In the first city, Griffin's problems are mild but as time goes on and Griffin travels deeper and deeper into the south, the problems become more in-depth. The problems in the cities range from as small as having colored/white bathrooms to a white mob nearly killing a Negro. At one point in Black Like Me, a problem on a bus traveling to Hattiesburg, Alabama arises. At a rest stop on the way to Hattiesburg, the bus driver lets all of the whites off but refuses to let the Negroes off. Here is a quote from the scene: 'I stood on the bottom step, waiting. The driver turned back to me. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his heavy cheeks quivering with each word. "I'd like to go to the restroom." I smiled and moved to step down. He tightened his grip on the door facings and shouldered in close to block me.

Open Document