Rating: 
Summary: Quite dull
Review: This guy really lays it on thick with the "I know such and such" name-dropping garbage. Irritating.He is so busy talking about his own life that the people he attempts to write about are diminished even more. I found this book very hard to read because of this. Not a smooth read at all. Use this book for the names only. It has no social value other than that. He would have been better off publishing his roledex in place of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Those Who Don't Know Pretend to Know
Review: After sitting among friends and acquaintances who wanted to delve into a deeper analysis of this book, I decided to purchase it to see what it said about the black elite. I was turned off immediately, largely because Graham's "factual" statements about well-recognized individuals who are a part of this society were inaccurate, especially when he spoke about those who graduated from various HBCUs. As my reading continued, despite these inaccuracies, I found the text to be mundane, and often had to take it to read while on the treadmill at the gym, just to avoid falling asleep. This is the story of a man who was on the outside, and wanted desperately to be a part of a group who chooses not to identify itself and simply exists. In some ways, it was insightful, but, for the most part, this was a text that sought to "out" the inner workings of the black elite and created dissension in the black community between those who belonged (yet chose not to flount it) and those who don't belong, but want to. I was disturbed by this book, and am glad I read it, but only so that I could be fully informed when engaging in discussions about the text. I wouldn't recommend it as an insight into the black elite, for the reality of that group is that they don't flount themselves and don't try to explain themselves, they just exist. Perhaps we should just let them be.
Rating: 
Summary: Very interesting...
Review: This was a good read. I thought the author did an excellent job taking you inside the black inner circles. I thought he could have shared more of his reflections, since he grew up in this inner circle. He never said if he thought it was good or bad, but maybe that's for you to decide. I liked the fact that he scans many topics: passing, college/fraternities and sororities,a nd different cities. I became exposed to this inner circle when I joined a historically black sorority. It gave insight to what many of my friends have experienced.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. I am well-versed in the social mores of this group. I can't understand why some of the reviewers are bitter about this book. The author is basically telling the story of his life. He is expressing how it felt to be on the fringe of this group during his childhood and adolescent years. I think it's a case of reverse discrimination. If you a minority in this country and you pull yourself up by the bootstraps, everyone applauds. However, if grew up in an upper middle-class environment than your accomplishments are met with resentment.
It's really too bad
Rating: 
Summary: SnobsRUs--and not very interesting bunch
Review: Since I grew up in the projects, I would never be considered one of the "black" elite--never mind the fact that I (and many others) have pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps. We have college educations, rewarding careers albeit not necessarily prestigious, comfortable homes, stable marriages (or live in relationships) and we've strived not to become a burden to society--yet to these insular types described in this book we will never measure up. I love it that the biggest sin to these "white wanna be's" interviewed in the book to actually marry someone white. Hypocrisy at its worst!
Rating:
Summary: C+
Review: A great supplement to this book is "Aristocrats of Color", which is much more clinical and detailed. The author is a professor who is detached from the black elite. Excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: It's interesting what passes for elite in Graham's acc't....
Review: Accomplished these folks may be, but Rockefellers and Rothschilds they are not. Nor are they seriously wealthy and connected like many Africans I've met. Upper middle class is a better word. That said we're all God's children and the divisions we create are surely contrary to His purposes for our lives.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I was not raised in this group, but I am interested in them since some of my family are "Black Upper Class". I liked his book because he told the negative aspects of the group (his grandmother's insults against brown skin; the extreme--and to me--the nightmare/paranoid lifestyle of "passing"), but at the same time he talks about the positive aspects of the group and he admits that he has not rejected the group--he is an active participant. That is refreshing. It is easy to be a Black nationalist on paper, then to be snobby in your everyday life. This author seems to be saying "this is the truth I have experienced. This is the upper class. It is a pungent group. Make up your own mind whether you think it is a delicious or repugnant odor."
Rating:
Summary: Very detailed but interesting well written book!
Review: I first saw Mr. Graham being interviewed by Tavis Smiley on BET, about two years ago, and my initial reaction was, "I have no desire to read about snobbish so-called black folks, however, after reading the reviews on this board I decided, why not read it! Much to my surprise I enjoyed it. I certainly could have done without some of the very long and sometimes boring details of each person social status, however, much of it was very inspiring and made me feel very proud of being an african-american. Before I began reading the book, I read a small paragraph in the back about the Author...This helped me better understand his feelings and obvious insecurities about being apart of the black elite. At times he seemed very frustrated about not being more apart of it than he is, and often times throughout the book he almost seemed about as snobbish and non-black as some of the people that he writes about. But then this is the life he knows. He did not grow up in a poor or middle class environment where he got to truly see both sides of the black culture. He really only knows one side, and I think its a bit unfortunate for him, however, If I had to choose someone as a mentor for my son, he would be my first choice over the likes of basketball players and rappers. What I found most interesting about this book was the different neighborhoods he mentioned that blacks have and still do reside in that many people, black and white, including myself only know to be exclusive white communities. I especially was surprised at the number of people who still reside in Sag Harbor! I knew that many affluent blacks live very well in Southern States, but I was unaware of the Northern States. I also wanted express my thoughts on the different organizations and clubs that were established and still exist such as the Links, and the Girlfriends. I too, thought about starting my own womens only club about 5 years ago, and I was also going to restrict it too a certain "class of people" but then I thought,thats not right, who I am to say who qualifies and who doesnt, until I read this book. I realized thats sometimes it it is necessary to do just that. I grew up in an environment of both poor and middle class blacks, and I was fortunate enough (due to good parents and other family members) not to get caught up in some of the bad elements that existed, however, because of that, I only associated myself with those that were like me. But this did inspire me to maybe start my own club (with my girlfriends help) but the shade of ones skin color will definitely not matter in my group, as it did in so many of the clubs mentioned in this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the intellectual and affluent side of the black race.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I first found this book to be interesting, then I found it repetative, tiresome, and boring. Also, I couldn't get a grasp on where the author was coming from. Is he now ashamed that he was a part of some of the intra-racism that was going on? Is he proud of his "upper middle class" ties? Is he still striving to be a part of this group? I couldn't really read between the contradictions. Also as other reviewers put it, he does seem to be about 10 to 15 years behind the curve on what's really going on in "Black America". This could've been an article in "Ebony" magazine about 35 years ago and been right on time. It did open up some interesting dialoug, and I did enjoy the pictures. It's almost like looking into my own family album.
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