Study Questions for Black Like Me
Study Questions for Black Like Me
Note: Black Like Me sometimes refers to black people as "Negroes." This term is outdated and often offensive today, but it was considered respectful until the 1970's. For example, the United Negro College Fund, which funds scholarships mostly for black students, has not changed its name since its founding in 1944.
October 28, 1959-November 12
1. Summarize Griffin's steps in preparation for his transformation. How relevant is this description to his
overall purpose in the book?
2. Examine the three times that Griffin writes about a great feeling of loneliness.
3. Explain how the black people Griffin meets are unified in their daily lives. Does this seem accurate
today? Are his observations only true in that region of New Orleans?
4. Why is the scene with the boy harassing Griffin disturbing?
5. How do Sterling Williams and Joe copy the attitudes of the white people when dealing with the wino?
6. What concepts or ideas does the doctor's comment "Now you go into oblivion" emphasize?
7. Identify the similes in this section.
8. Identify ten examples of imagery from this section.
9. List three (or more) reasons in favor of Griffin's experiment and three (or more) reasons against it.
10. If you conducted an experiment similar to Griffin's, what society would you enter? Why?
November 14-November 16
11. Why is the story most effective in first-person narrative style?
12. What is surprising about Christophe and his actions on the bus?
13. Analyze the metaphor Griffin uses when he says, "I knew I was in hell" (Griffin 66).
14. Describe the results of P. D. East's attempt to write about fairness for the Negro.
15. Why does Griffin feel that most whites cannot honestly consider themselves superior to black people?
16. Find and write the similes and metaphors in this section.
17. Find and write the allusions in this section.
18. Discuss why black people call some people "Uncle Tom." Note what the original fictional character
was really like, and explain how this name could be offensive to black people.
November 19-November 25
*Warning: In this section, there is frank discussion of black and white sexuality.
19. How do the people who pick up Griffin while he is hitchhiking act differently than they would in
other company?
20. One of the drivers who picks up Griffin acts surprised by his ability to converse intelligently on a
subject. The driver believes in the stereotype that black people are not intelligent and can't speak
well. How would you refute this stereotype?
21. What conclusion does Griffin draw about the Negro and the prejudice that they experience?
22. How does Griffin show that he is more emotionally involved in this experiment than he ever intended
to be? How is the first-person point of view effective for expressing this?
23. Identify three examples of similes and/or metaphors in this section.
24. Research one visual example of segregation in U.S. society.
25. On pages 92-93, Griffin concludes that education is the only way out of poverty and hopelessness.
Explain and defend this idea, or disagree with it.
26. Griffin attributes the white construction worker's blindness to race to the man's great love for his
family. Is this a valid conclusion? Why or why not?
November 27-August 17
27. How does Griffin feel when, as a black man, he does not receive smiles from strangers?
28. What was the American Dream of the white immigrant who came to Ellis Island in the late 1800's?
29. Describe the American Dream of the black man in the 1840's, 1860's, and 1960's.
30. Analyze the motives of people who make clandestine and threatening calls to people with whom they
do not agree?
31. List the media that could be used to disseminate Griffin's experiment today.
Epilogue-Afterward
32. Has your opinion of stereotypes in general changed since reading Black Like Me?
33. After his experiment, what did Griffin predict would happen if integration did not move along at a
consistent rate?
34. Explain why you believe Black Like Me continues to speak to people all over the world.
35. How can you combat prejudice and harassment in your school? *You may work with another person
to answer this question.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
36. What symbols have significance in Griffin's book?
37. Are there parts of the book that you find offensive or irrelevant?
38. List seven important events in the book, in your opinion. Then choose ONE and about it as a
newspaper article in 150 (or more) words; include the date, place, name(s) of the persons John
Howard Griffin encountered, a word or phrase describing the situation (mood), and the result of
the situation.
39. Choose ONE of the admirable people Griffin met, and explain why you admire that character in 100
(or more) words. How did the author make him/her admirable?
40. In a two-column Survival Chart, explain how Griffin fills these needs for survival: food, water,
warmth, shelter, love, companionship, and mental stimulation.