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Shop nowBlack like Me
Narrator
Ray Childs
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Length
7 hours 10 minutes
Language
English
Writer John Howard Griffin decided to perform an experiment fifty years ago. In order to learn firsthand how one race could withstand the second class citizenship imposed on it by another, he dyed his white skin dark, left his family, and traveled to the South to live as a black man. What began as scientific research ended up changing his life in every way imaginable.
This is an eyewitness account of discrimination and segregation that is terrifying and degrading, and its publication caused a furor. As narrated by Ray Childs, this first-ever recording of Black like Me will leave each listener deeply affected. John Howard Griffin’s groundbreaking and controversial work helped bring the full effect of racism to the forefront of America’s conscience—and it has lessons to be learned over half a century later.
John Howard Griffin (1920–1980), was a writer, journalist, humanitarian, and social critic. He was educated in France. His first work, The Devil Rides Outside, is an autobiographical account of his time there and the personal struggles during this period of his life. With the advent of World War II, Griffin did military service, where he was hit on the head and suffered a concussion, which later caused him to be struck blind. He miraculously recovered his sight five years later and wrote about the experience in Scattered Shadows. The most famous and controversial book he wrote was Black Like Me, where he examined the attitudes of whites toward African Americans in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. In order to obtain firsthand experience, he dyed his skin black and lived among African Americans. Griffin received many awards in his lifetime, including the Pope John XIII Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award and the National Council of Negro Women Award.
Ray Childs is a successful audiobook narrator. He can be heard on such titles as Black like Me, The Vanderbilts, and Amos Fortune.
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Reviews
“A stinging indictment of thoughtless, needless inhumanity. No one can read it without suffering.”
“Essential reading…a social document of the first order…with such authenticity that it cannot be dismissed.”
“Professional narrator Childs renders this recounting even more immediate and emotional with his heartfelt delivery and skillful use of accents.”
“A fascinating view of life before the heyday of the Civil Rights movement, showing the difficulties of being black in America.”
“Ray Childs’ narration is both straightforward and deeply satisfying. A skilled reader, he incorporates different dialects to help listeners distinguish among the various characters. His ability to convey a full spectrum of emotions, including exhilaration, bone-deep sadness, and gut-wrenching fear is riveting…This recording deserves a place in every public library.”
“[A] compelling and incisive piece of investigative reporting…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.”