Rating: 
Summary: Illuminating, informative, a must-read!
Review: Lawrence Otis Graham has written a comprehensive chronicle of the black upper class, celebrating the achievements and highlighting the foibles of this little-known group. You will read stories here that have never been told, and need to be told. I was moved by this book, and appreciate both the depth of Lawrence's research and the fearlessness and grace of his writing. Well done.
Rating: 
Summary: A Waste of Talent
Review: From what I've heard, Graham is originally from Mt. Vernon, New York. His father was a fireman and his mother sold encyclopedias. What I'd like to know is what college(s) did his parents graduate from and when? If his parents did not graduate from any of the colleges he references in his book, does that make him an "insider wannabe"? It's bad enough other ethnic groups try to divide, destroy & disgrace the values and lifestyles of Africian Americans... it's more hurtful when it's "our kind".
Rating:
Summary: Sad, But Apparently True
Review: After reading the book I thought, "perhaps Graham was exagerating a bit. After all, surely there are no Black people still left in the world who hold these antiquated, exclusionary views.'" But then I read some of the on-line reviews from those claiming to be "insiders" and realized that, for all its pretentiosness, "Our Kind of People" was a somewhat accurate protrayal of the attitudes and mores of a people so wounded by the sting of rejection that they have decided to inflict this injury upon those least deserving of the slight. Many of the characters were almost comical in their desire to distance themselves from the "the masses of the bungled and the botched." from the many women who justified their exclusionary practices with shoddy reasoning like "if whites can do it, why can't we?" to the older woman who thwarted the admission to the Links of an accomplished and successful young woman because, years ago, the young woman's husband (who was not even married at the time) did not get tickets to an event that the older woman wanted her daughters to attend, the characters left me wondering: what price success? Is this all that successful, professional Black men and women who seek companionship from other accomplished members of their kind have to learn from? We may criticize Mr. Graham for being geographically one generation behind the curve, but I think that he captured the unchanging, defining quality of this shallow and irrelevant group: the desire to judge others by morally irrelevant and arbitrary standards.
Rating: 
Summary: An accurate look
Review: When I saw this book in Essence Magazines, February issue, the first thing I did was call my mother. After reading this book, I felt a sense of pride that I hadn't felt before. I grew up in Jack and Jill, my family members are all AKA's, Links, Q's, etc. I go to the yearly functions, and my family knows some of the people mentioned in this book. As I read about the authors experiences, I found myself wishing that I had felt as connected to my Jack and Jill group as he did. By the time I was a teeneager in the early 90's, these groups weren't as needed because evrything is so intergrated now, we don't face daily discrimination and the need for the childhood groups wasn't that strong. I chose not to debut because it wasn't that important then, but my mother and my cousins did as teenagers, and I wish now that I had. My grandmother was a founding member of a Links chapter and an AKA chapter. This book provided a true look into the way these groups operated, although I've never noticed an obsession with light skin or "good" hair. I also agree with the author in that why do blacks resent their upper class so much? White people have their exclusive groups, why shouldn't we? Three generations of my family are all professionals and have advanced degrees, why SHOULD we spend our time with people from the projects? And it makes sense what many of these people said about those with newly acquired money (athletes, singers, etc.). Simply because someone excels at putting a ball through a hoop and gets paid several million a year does not mean that they have class. Being black does mean you are my equal. I can't relate to people who grew up with nothing, neither can the author. My parents, like the author's, weren't rich but fairly comfortable, and very classy. It's a shame that people are so jealous of those who have for generations paved the way for today's educated blacks. This was a fun read.
Rating: 
Summary: Meeooww!!! As American as Sweet Potato Pie
Review: The rating is for the historical research conducted. Kudos! to Mr. Graham for opening the eyes of the ignorant masses as to what the African American community has built, contributed and strived for in this country under unimaginable circumstances. Like all cultures though, African-Americans have a segment of people that have issues with their identity. I have come into contact with "them" through business. They are a sad reality.Hopefully, "they" will overcome those issues. Very informative, catty, poignant and inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Disregard reviews of the "insiders."
Review: Ignore the reviews of those who consider themselves members of the class about whom Graham writes. Their theatrical responses to Graham's expose are truly illuminating, affirming the truth of his basic thesis. The book is an informative read. All blacks should read it.
Rating:
Summary: An uninformed, ridiculous tract
Review: The author wouldn't know the black upper-class if he saw it. And his sources count for nothing, as most of them are wannabe types just like him. If his point is that educated and/or monied blacks can be just as shallow, stupid, status-minded and vulgar as their white counterparts, then the point is nicely taken. But the real problem here is the author's vision: he's in love with fancy labels, and bores the reader to death by ticking them off, page after page. Social mountaineering undercuts any pretension of genuine class; the most descriptive term is "crass".
Rating:
Summary: Pathetic
Review: For those who actually know the score, this is a pathetic effort. And if the author knew the score, he would never have written this psychosilly and embarrassing book. Clearly, Graham doesn't know what he's talking about. Because he himself is an outsider looking in.
Rating:
Summary: Stark nonsense
Review: This book is an idiotic paean to "good old days" of segregation, when Graham's subjects had a tiny black corner of America all to themselves, where they could lord it over the less fortunate. As things now stand, this group wields no real influence, has no real money, and exists entirely on the faded glory of a time long passed, thank God. They count for nothing in the modern world, and someone should inform Graham of this fact so that he can stop "foolishly looking up".
Rating:
Summary: Pure Entertainment!
Review: I am uniquely qualified to review this book because I don't come from this elite cirle. From a historical perspective, it was and still is amazing what some of these people were able to accomplish prior to the turn-of-the-century. With all the credentials and pedigrees, I find it rather amusing that two of the most successful black entrepreneurs in this country weren't even a part of this group. It appears that even among this group there is very little political clout or cohesiveness unless someone is throwing a party, ball or cotillion. Many times I found myself laughing at some of the insulting comments made, e.g., "My parents were professionals, so they weren't talking to people in the projects." As black Americans, we all face many of the same trials and tribulations regardless of predigree, education and income. Some of these people have some real issues especially with self-hatred and skin color. I applaud Lawrence Otis Graham's attempt to give us a glimpse into his world. It is one I would much rather look at from afar.
|
