Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class

Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class

By: Lawrence Otis Graham  

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Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5

Debutante cotillions. Million-dollar homes. Summers in Martha's Vineyard. Membership in the Links, Jack & Jill, Deltas, Boule, and AKAs. An obsession with the right schools, families, social clubs, and skin complexion. This is the world of the black upper class and the focus of the first book written about the black elite by a member of this hard-to-penetrate group.

Author and TV commentator Lawrence Otis Graham, one of the nation's most prominent spokesmen on race and class, spent six years interviewing the wealthiest black families in America. He includes historical photos of a people that made their first millions in the 1870s. Graham tells who's in and who's not in the group today with separate chapters on the elite in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nashville, and New Orleans. A new Introduction explains the controversy that the book elicited from both the black and white communities.

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Release Date: 1999-12-22

Customer Review: 3 out of 5
A BIT ONE-DIMENSIONAL - First, let me start with the positive. Lawrence Otis Graham writes in an engaging style that pulls you in, and the subject matter is inherently quite interesting. As a Caucasian-American, I'm not familiar with the organizations and groups to which members of the black elite belong, and it's inspiring to hear of so many successful people within the community. That said, after reading a number of chapters, the book became tedious. It felt like an endless repetition of names and attributes rather than digging deeper into the whys and hows of the black elite. Each chapter began to feel the same: So-and-So, who went to the prestigious Such-and-Such Private Academy, then Harvard or Howard University, followed by Harvard Law School who is now a partner at So-and-So- and So Law firm, belonged to Jack and Jill, the Co-Ettes, the Comus, lived in a spacious, gracious home, was the granddaughter of So-and-So who was the first black judge in Such and Such county, etc. I would much rather have learned more about how so many people were able to transcend racism, lack of opportunity, discrimination etc. and do so well. I would have liked more analysis and more history than a list of "Who's Who." i.e. what was it like to grow up in the black elite community in the south during segregation? What was it like to be the first black student at a previously all white college in the late 1800's? It's also interesting to read the book now, ten years after it was published, in light of the fact that Barack Obama is our president. I wonder how or if that changes the dynamic within the black elite and in their relationship with the bigger society.

Customer Review: 1 out of 5
Thank you Mr. Graham, now I know I'm low class - After I read this book I realized how low class I truly am.
My father is Puerto Rican and my mother is black so despite my best attempts my hair will never ever pass the ruler test since it is way too curly.
I attended an all black private school from pre-K to 8th grade, but since it wasn't mentioned in this book-it doesn't count.
My parents were invited to join Jack & Jill, but after one meeting saw how damned pretentious the people were and declined. Rather than expose me to vaporous children & their parents I attended Freedom Theater and Girl Scouts, as well as the Prime program and AFNA in the summers to help me excel academically. But since we weren't vacationing in Oak Bluffs or Sag Harbor I guess we were poor and low class.
I was accepted to St. Paul preparatory school in Minnesota, but since I would have been a scholarship student from Philadelphia I wouldn't have had a positive experience in an all white boarding school (according to his book). So my mother with her infinite foresight sent me to Central High School (also mentioned in this book ) rather then expose me to the same self hating cancer bug that it seems Graham was exposed to in the same environment.
I was accepted to Howard University, but since I received an academic scholarship to UMES -chose to go there, but I guess my education isn't worth anything since UMES is not a "top black school".
I joined one of the sororities that "truly matters" but didn't do it for prestige, rather I joined because the organization embodied the same ideals I possessed.
Now I don't live in a "big important city", and I don't have a prominent job (although it pays quite well) and my husband is not some prestigious big wig. Unfortunately, we own a 3 bedroom house (no summer home) and can only afford to go on an exotic vacation once a year (and I'm not talking Jamaica).
I guess after all my years of education and exposure to different people and organizations, I woefully missed the mark and am not and will never be "Their Kind of People".

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
"Great" - I believe this was a great book. It was very exciting from the very first chapter.He really did in depth research, on the subject of these so called BGLO (Black Greek Letter Organizations). I do support alot of what he said. I do agree with him on the prejudiceness of the Alpha Phi Alpha and AKA's. I do believe he is a good writer and researcher,it is just that some people cannot handle the truth.

Customer Review: 3 out of 5
Graham Just Wants to Make Money! - I know that portraying this group as haughty and snobbish sells books,
but most still support the NAACP, Urban League, and other
groups, not just social events. It sells books
to make it seem that is almost impossible to get in these organizations.
Which is not true. Although some have said "anyone" can get in,that is not true either. You do need a decent
education (college degree for most of these clubs fraternites and
sororities), personality and someone to sponsor you, in some cases
even more. In my alumni chapter of AIA it is required now to have
3 people to sponsor you and they all have to be from our chapter.
Also he did not tell that these groups are not free, membership is
expensive. Also annual dues is expensive. So beware! but being a
member lets you enjoy fellowship with a lot of good people.
Some people who did not know were confused about some things that
were stated in the book. Let me clarify! There is no one at the door
with a clipboard checking to see if you can check off all the "boxes".
I know families with stellar credentials that went to the top in
one generation. There are no written rules for this clique.
Mr. Graham forgot to mention there is a important box he left out.
My grandmother would have called it "class" or "taste".
Also some rules are unwritten! You learn them from your family and
friends. How to handle yourself in social situations and conversations.
I would never meet someone and start with a list of credentials.
They observe very carefully every word, nuance and gesture.
You never brag about anything! If you have it you don't have to tell.
I appreciate the book because I wondered why the kids in our circle
were not like most black kids. I felt left out because I knew our
families were "different". We were outcasts in our own community.
Also a lot has changed since the civil rights movement. There is less
preoccupation with color and caste. Also more young people are community
minded and not just social butterflies. Someone also asked about the
problem with Graham not feeling all the way in. The problem is not with
just immediate family, it is with past generations. He is in the group
but not at the top. This would have required generations of inclusion.
Last point is that Mr. Grahams out look on life greatly disturbs me!
He is wealthy, happily married to a beautiful, successful lady, a
member of the Boule and he comes from a good family. What else does
he want? He says he is in but not all the way in. So what? I am not
sure what he needs or wants to make his social credentials complete.
Of course he could join the National Guardsmen, Comus or the Rainbow
Yacht Club. But he is in the group. So I say to you my brother be content
with what you have. Whether you know it or not you have been extremely
blessed. Why do you need other people to validate you? BE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Everyone on here tryin to slam this book needs to sit down somewhere! - All Mr. Graham did was tell about another side of black/american history that existed. Ever since I read this book(not half way but the entire book!), this book has provoked intelligent conversation among my peers and family )Other races have their famous families like the kennedys, etc in which they glorify their accomplishments. Why can't african americans have our famous families? The families that are featured in the book should be praised snotty or not, because they dared to accomplish beyond the low bar that has been set for us by white america.

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