Black Like Me

Black Like Me is an autobiographical memoir rather than a novel, its themes stem from Griffin's real experiences and explicit opinions rather than from artistic creativity. As a result, Black Like Me is a fairly simple book; most of the important themes in the novel are discussed at length by Griffin during his long, contemplative diary entries. The most fundamental theme of Black Like Me, of course, is the question of identity and specifically the …

…all offer proof that even though racism can warp the human spirit, it cannot destroy the human capacity for love and kindness. In the end, Griffin explicitly argues that love and tolerance are the only catalysts capable of changing society for the better—he is especially opposed to violence and the reactionary black supremacist movement typified by Malcolm X, which he considers another form of racism, likely to end in more violence and more misunderstanding.