Black Like Me

Content Warning: This section of the study guide contains detailed discussions of racism and violence motivated by racism, including references to lynching and suicide. The source material includes outdated and offensive racial terms and slurs, which are reproduced in this guide only via quotations.

What does Griffin’s experiment indicate about his character, particularly considering the era and places he inhabited? Why did Griffin succeed in this attempt where others may have failed or been discovered?

Almost immediately after his transformation, Griffin begins to experience The Psychological Effects of Discrimination. What messages does Griffin offer about the long-term effects of discrimination and prejudice?

How do Griffin’s experiences illustrate The Illusion of Racial Differences that is realized in attitudes, treatment, and policy? How does Griffin’s experiment attempt to fight this misperception?