Rating: 
Summary: An interesting sociological commentary on class...
Review: My views are different from most as I look at the book from the viewpoint of a sociologist. In a nutshell, the book describes characteristics typical of upper classes, particularly elites in ostensibly democratic societies such as the U.S. I see few differences between Graham's description of the Black upper class and what we know about the white upper class except for a stronger social conscience on the part of the former--manifested in their dedication to philanthropy, particularly giving back to less privileged Blacks. I find that admirable and understandable given the race line in America. Lastly, like the white WASP upper class, the Black upper class could well be on its way to oblivion as its power and social prestige are quickly giving way to the dynamic new wealth represented by the emerging crop of Black, White, Asian and Hispanic professionals/entrepreneurs that I see everyday here in the Silicon Valley. I am buoyed by this emerging multi-racial/multi-ethnic elite as they come from all backgrounds, define themselves by what they (not their parents) have accomplished, and hold enlightened views on race, gender and class. Goodbye to the old elite--white, black, yellow or brown--and your sense of inherited privilege!
Rating: 
Summary: Repetitive....Repetitive
Review: Graham's obsession with Ivy League schools and pedigree is nonsense. While a student at Morehouse College, I was mentored by a distinguished dark-skinned Constitutional Law Professor.( Any Morehouse Man and Spelmanite would know to who I am referring.)He taught us never to be impressed with anyone claiming to have Harvard or Yale credentials. Why? Those schools produced numerous Supreme Court Justices who wrote the dissenting opinions to further oppress the black masses in this country. It will take more than a Ivy-League degree to impress this MOREHOUSE MAN! PS. That secret isn't taught at Harvard.
Rating:
Summary: Great potential, but fell short...
Review: I deliberately sought this book out, because I am tired of the image (pushed by mainstream and some African American media) of blacks as being successful only in the fields of sports and entertainment. After looking forward to this read with anticipation, I was very dissapointed for four reasons. First, the book falls seriously short of addressing the accomplishments of this group of people. The only accomplishment that the author seems to relish is ivy-league degrees (hey, Graham, you should know by now that degrees are only the beginning of the journey, it's what you DO with them that counts!). Second, it is very repetitive (the entire contents may be summarized as follows: Upper class black men belong to a club called Boule, the women to Links, the kids to Jack & Jill, they all vacation in Sag Harbor, they strive for light skin and straight hair, and they all get into Ivy League or major black colleges. Oh, and they try to mimick upper-class whites with their debutante balls). That's it. There is no rigor or analysis to this book. Third reason: The pictures in the book contradict its central theme that members pass a light skinned-straight hair test. Most of the people in the pictures (Madame Walker, Ebony CEO & sons, etc) had African features and medium to dark skin. And I don't think there was a woman in those pictures with naturally straight hair. (My theory: author wants to portray accomplished people in his photos and most accomplished blacks, like most blacks, do not fall into his lighter skinned definition of this group). Fourth, the author makes a real mockery out of the people he's trying to represent. They come off as being shallow fools, trying hard to make themelves into an elite group through brown paper bags and rulers. Truly intelligent people are beyond that garbage. All in all, a missed opportunity to shine some light on the reality of successful Blacks outside the realm of entertainment and sports.
Rating: 
Summary: get a grip
Review: This book is not that important. Folks are way too serious with their reviews. I went to the "right" colleges, have a Ph.D., belong to the "right" clubs, the "right" frat, make more money than most. But, so what? Big freaking deal. I eliminate waste and bleed like any other human being on this planet. Elite, NO! Hardworking with a strong sense of community, YES! Get as much education as you can. And remember "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Stop wasting mental and emotional energy on issues that are as superficial as skin color and group membership. Focus on making a better way for yourself, your family, and your community. Finally, is God elite?
Rating: 
Summary: Not New but in a Long Tradition of trying to Understand
Review: Our Kind of People is in the long tradition of works that have tried to understand black Americans who have enjoyed economic stability in America. It is not the first of its kind, although it is the first of its kind in the last twenty years or so. The Sociologist E.Franklin Frazier's 1957 work, Black Bourgeoisie, is the first attempt to understand this population. Frazier's work, however, was non-comparative and missed an early change to define this group. Frazier did not understand that this group of black Americans were not a class; no an upper class, but rather was (and is) in the tradition of middle-man groups. These are groups who trace their success in America to early business or entrepreneurial activities of relatives. Their traits are (1) they adjust to hostility by creating enterprises which (2) allow them to send their children to college in order to become professionals (3) which helps to continue a value system of self-help. They are also noted for the building of religious and educational institutions. Wherever you find them, you also find their institutions and organizations. Groups in this tradition include the Ibo in Africa, Eastern European Jews in America, Black Southerns, and Mormons in America. What sets them apart is that their success is due to what parents, friends and organizations do rather than what societies "do for them." Perhaps the most important trait is that they feel that their traditions are better than people of the host society. As blacks in this population said in New Orleans during the period of desegregation, only about 12% of whites are worth integrating with. These were whites in their tradition, those who valued education for their children. Because scholars and others do not like to write or talk about "black success" at any level, we know very little about this group. But there are other books in this traditons. Stephen Birmingham' (1977) Certain People is an excellent one. Birmingham writes about Washington D.C.'s Old Guard, or black "cave-dwellers" who families have had money, social position and education since the turn of the century. In John Dollard seminar work, Caste and Class in a Southern Town, he describes the same kind of black Americans. Other works, which are mostly about families, include T.M. Alexander's Beyond the Timberline, Jonathan Greenberg's Jake Simmons, Jr. and the Making of an African-American Oil Dynasty, and Robert Woodson's On the Road to Economic Freedom. Although all of these books do not get into the details of Graham's work, they show how the history of self-help is so important for black Americans. John Sibley Butler's book, Entrepreneurship and Self-Help Among Black Americans: A Reconsideration of Race and Economics, has an extensive discussion of how Graham's population fit into middle-man groups and really do not represent a class. The fact that Graham makes a big deal out of color is no big deal (a bigger deal is hair color within "white" America, or the absolute worshipping of whites who are fair, blue eyed and blond). And of course only a small portion of the group are of mixed race. The important thing about his population is that they (1) take care and educate their children (and do not depend on scholorships at the undergraduate level) (2) have a strong support for historical black institutions (black Americans are the only group of color with private institutions of higher education. In the entire SW there is not one Hispanic private school, not is there an Asian school) (3) and have developed a formula for living in a society which can be hostile. Indeed, this population might hold the attitude structure that is necessary for all black Americans to develop as a new century is upon us. Despite racism and discrimination, they (like other groups around the globe) have created organizations for the success of future generations. Archon Lawrence Otis Graham you did a great job.
Rating:
Summary: Self serving
Review: Despite my upbringing in a Jack and Jill/Delta Sigma Theta/Guardsmen/Girl Friends/Smart Set/Tuskegee/Camp Atwater home, I am delighted not to consider myself in the same "High Yeller" society as the author. I know many of the families mentioned in OKOP, but they are not as described (thank goodness)! Perhaps the author should realize that Black Society (at least most of it) went through slavery, racism, Jim Crow, etc. and survived. Maybe he needs a true black experience. As to the book, it could (and should) have been a lot shorter. It became very repetitive, with only the names and cities changing.
Rating: 
Summary: What a Great Book!!!!
Review: I think this was a very interesting book. I am a 22 year old black male college student who comes from a lower class background. I am dark skinned and I am not a part of any black fraternity. I am a member of a mixed business fraternity. I do have a interest in a black fraternity that is currently on probation at my university for the past five years. I have been introduce to Jack and Jill in high school, but did not really know what it was till I read this book. Though I am not happy with everthing mentioned in the book, no one can argue that this book was not interesting to read. I truly think Graham was just explaining the type of lifestyle he had came from and not to purposely bash poorer blacks. While in high school, I met students who matched Grahams students in his book. I wanted to be part of that group so bad at that time, but not I am more focusing on my academics and my career. Now I know why some blacks act the way they do.
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Summary: I learned something.
Review: I mention in passing that I am white. I read the book for two reasons. One, I like to read the new non-fiction that comes to the library I work for and two, I know someone who is from the African-American upper class. Therefore I was curious. I learned something. It is not a subject I normally would have been interested in. I am not in a position to judge the information Mr. Graham gave. I am glad though I was able to learn something about a group that I previously knew nothing about.
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Summary: The book was well-written, but it's black-on-black hate
Review: Mr. Graham is an excellent writer. I like how he uses words. The book is about Blacks snubbing other Blacks. I was happy to see that there are some successful Black families who want and get only the best but it was discouraging to see that no matter how hard I work and how much money I earn unless I was born into money I'll never be excepted by the "Black Elite". As a light-skinned Black young woman I was upset at how lighter Black were portrayed in this book. Like we think that we are superior to other Blacks, that's slave mentality and it's getting old. The facts were interesting but I was kind of turned off. I had friend from my private school who were in Jack and Jill and I wanted to be apart of that crowd so bad that I would cry. But now that I know the underground things about it I've changed my mind. I guess the grass isn't greener on the other side
Rating:
Summary: The Black Elite should toss Mr. Graham from their ranks!
Review: Our book club selected this book to read at our last gathering. We were all quite shocked and amazed at the high level of snobbery and uppityness that was portrayed in Mr. Graham's work. I commend his efforts to highlight some of the history behind the Black social organizations, schools, and vacation spots. I even enjoyed his chapter on the undercover world of those "passing for white." Those interesting tidbits, however, were more than overshadowed by the shallow and egotistical quotes from members of the elite. I didn't think that one of our own would write something that has the potential for being so divisive to our race. Mr. Graham has done this segment of our population a huge disservice. I'm sure they all aren't so petty......Can't we all just get along??????
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