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Bridget's Quiet Corner
No. Not at all. He did it to see what we as black people dealt with during that time. It's not like he was doing black face to be a racist butt hole. Because I personally understand why he did it, it doesn't bother me at all. Have you read the book? He gives explanation as to why he was doing it. They may have then, even some now, but many with some level of common sense and critical thinking would understand it, especially once they have read the book.
Rodnchance
The only thing 'offensive' about this book was the way black people were treated then and now.
Griffin was instrumental in forming my thinking about how non-whites are treated in this "indispensable" and oh so "exceptional," country.
Griffin was instrumental in forming my thinking about how non-whites are treated in this "indispensable" and oh so "exceptional," country.
Isabel J
The entire book is offensive.
Richard
Ever heard phrases like "walk in another's shoes" and "see through another's eyes"? That's what Griffin decided to actually do, and in reading his account, we get to do this as well. Black Like Me is still relevant and provides invaluable insights, particularly to white America, So no, of course I'm not offended.
Dennis_a
Some people may find it offensive. I did not.
Katie
I think if someone did the same thing today it would be offensive, but this was the 1950s, before the Civil Rights Act, and as white as the media is now, it was much, much more so then. He mentions in the epilogue that a Black man could talk about how white people treated him and be trivialized and ignored, but when Griffin told white people the exact same thing, they WOULD listen to him, even though obviously a Black person knows more about anti-Black racism than a white man who only lived as a Black man for eight weeks. So I think this book can't really be viewed through the same lens we view things today. His actions would be considered blackface and white-splaining today, but because of the state of the US at the time, I think the book ended up doing more good than harm.
Forked Radish
The book is highly offensive to a coloured (the upper third of my body is greenish) vegetable like me, which is why I started reading it... But what's really offensive is that it's an obvious fake to any reasonably well read person.
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