Black Like Me Research Paper

Barack Obama has impacted America in many ways since he was elected the 44th president on November 4th, 2008. The first African American president of the United States has taken the world by storm and done many great things for this country. Barack Obama has accomplished many things in his personal life, and also as the president of the United States. Obama has affected the world financially, economically, and rebuilt our image as a nation.

If you stop and sit on the curb, a police officer will pass and probably ask you what you’re doing. I have heard none of the Negroes speak of police harassment, but have warned me that any time the police see a Negro idling, especially one they do not recognize, they will surely question him.(pg.43)

Many historians argue that race has played a central role in the history of the United States. The statement previously made is a factual statement because there is historical evidence to prove it is true. Knowing and taking in count that there is a lot of racial discrimination for all different races, our main focus will be on the African American (black) race.

Hello, I’m Thomas Jennings. I’m African-American. I was born in 1821 and lived in New York City, New York. As an African-American, I didn’t go to college even though I was a free man. I worked as a tailor before opening my own dry cleaning business. I eventually started one of the most respected and largest, custom made clothing stores in New York City.

The reading touched on how the building of black schools was financed. I found it interesting that most of the financial contributions were personal contributions from Blacks and taxes paid by black while the philanthropists gave less than 20 percent of the amount needed. However, because the elementary schools were referred to as Rosenwald schools the contributions of Blacks were often relegated to the background. Although, the contribution of the philanthropists did not equal that of the Blacks we see a usurping of power in how they stipulated that, as part of their agreement, the school would be deeded to the southern local school system.

The first quotation expresses John Howard Griffin’s problems that he faces just because of his color of skin. Whites show pure hatred to certain Blacks because of what other Blacks did. “I glanced back to see the boy halted at mid-block, leaning against the wall. ‘I’m in trouble,’ I said to the couple. They ignored me” (Griffin, 38). The reason why the couple completely ignored him was because of the color of his skin. During this time period, Blacks were not treated equally to whites. It was unfair because they were not treated as individuals, they were treated as an inferior race to whites. John Howard Griffin experienced the racism towards him as soon as he went into public, just because of the pigmentation of his skin.

Known around the nation as the Negro Wall Street, the community of Greenwood was the wealthiest black community at that time. African Americans moved to the Greenwood area of Tulsa to take advantage of the opportunities that were available to them.

Black Like Me is a biography about a middle-aged white man who wants to discover the

A common thread is seen through his works. His writings often revolve around his experiences like "Scattered Shadows" which he talks about his life and recovering from being blind. We see his great writing skills come from his point of view and makes us feel like we are in it with him too. Even though the book would have a stronger pull to it if the writer was actually black and cannot go back and forth in race. We would get the experience of them growing up surrounded with this hatred from whites and seeing how he watched his family slowly break down. Griffin did however, did do a great job with getting the story of both sides. He also, realized how privilege the white Griffin was verses the black Griffin and often melted into the black society and connecting to the feelings the other blacks felt tugging at the emotional

After reading the book BLACK LIKE ME by John Howard Griffin. My eyes where open to the great injustice of the time and the general unknowing of the south and the rest of the nation. I will start at the back of the book.

In the realm of Black films there is one man that comes to mind and no that is not Tyler Perry although he is great, but that man is Spike Lee. Spike Lee has been making films since 1983 that is a career span of thirty years with him directing with him actually directing thirty-nine films. Those thirty-nine films do not include all of the films he has produced and been an actor in. Spike Lee has become known for his films that usually revolve around present day problems with race and issues that affect the Black community. Two of his most popular films the first being School Daze, (1988) and the second Jungle Fever, (1991). Both films were written, produced, and directed by Spike Lee who also played a character in the films. School Daze a film that on the surface seems like it is only about sororities and fraternities against people who do not join them, but a more in depth look reveals the film is more about complexion. Jungle Fever, a film about a married Black man cheating on his Black wife with a white woman on the surface may seem to be about infidelity, but is also about colorism1 within the Black community. The issue of colorism, which basically means one skin tone is preferred over another, usually in darker races the lighter skin tones are preferred. This issue has plagued the Black community since the time of slavery and continues to affect the Black community today.

What does it mean to be Black in America? This question can be answered by various African-Americans and receive multiple responses. There is no specific reasoning to define Blacks in America, but there are aspects. Genetics and an individual’s view on their own identity play a great role in understanding what it means to be Black in general. Though, culture can influence one’s identity, in the end, there is no such term as being ‘like’ or ‘somewhat’ a certain race.

Racism was a large problem during Griffin’s time and is still a problem in society today. Extreme racism was seen in Griffin’s time because of hate groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. It was common to see a black hanging from a noose, or for a “nigger lover”

The book Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin, is a great book about Mr. Griffin’s hard journey as he transforms himself, a white man, into a black man and how different the life is as a Negro. Griffin soon finds out that the Negros don’t have very many of the Civil Rights that the white men have. Not being to eat at the same places or not even being able to get a cup of water were white men are served are just a couple examples Griffin finds out through his experiment.

Should the color of one’s skin determine what’s right? The book “Black Like Me” Civil rights are violated. Civil rights means: The Right of Citizens to Political and Social Freedoms, and Equality. You were not able to have a check cashed, go swimming, or even use the restroom if you were a Negro. Let’s go in depth with this.