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

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I picked up this book with the expection of getting some insight into this world unknown to me. Instead, I flipped through page after page of name dropping wondering when it would get better or end. He touches on the old paper bag test, desire for straight hair, etc. but does nothing to analyze it. Instead, he accepts the ignorance as simply "right". The author proclaims that he understood what his younger brother did not of the importance of staying out of the sun at an early age. Although I had no knowledge of some of the mentioned organizations, I got the feeling that much of this information was outdated. The repetitivness became unbearable to the point of me having to listen to music just to get through to the end.

Rating:
Summary: Revealing Writing...But Nothing New For African-Americans
Review: Graham airs what can be considered "dirty laundry" within the African-American community regarding the emphasis on skin complexion and social/economic status. Whereas, the latter has been a determining factor within most ethnic groups, the attention he grants the subject of skin complexion is adequately explained and truly authentic. Graham's writing is a bit tedious and eventually becomes repetative. However, I marginally recommend it to younger readers who may not be familiar with the "paper-bag test" or even the existance of a "Black Elite". More mature readers may also use some of the references to "The Boule" and "The Guardsmen" as motivation to further explore the significance and history of such organizations.

Rating:
Summary: eye opener
Review: My oh my, this was an eye opener. There are the arrogant poor who disdain the upper class and there are the arrogant rich who disdain the poor.

It's sad that dark color has been such an issue to blacks This is why wealthy our city blacks are insulted when asked to help (hands-on) in the projects. They can say they promote other blacks, but they will not get their hands dirty, unless it's a groundbreaking ceremony for a building named in their honor.

After reading this book, I will forever see my black neighbors as hitting a glass ceiling erected by the more fortunate, and maintained by blacks who were born, "up the hill."

Graham seems like a super nice guy, and seems aware (and a little apologetic) of his ignorance; but, he seems pretty out of touch with middle-class professionals. Too bad when parents so over-protect and brainwash children that they're afraid of being around "people like us." When we see a schizoid bag-woman on Peachtree St, we ought to see ourselves.

Rating:
Summary: Awfully written book!
Review: Firstly and foremost, Lawrence Otis Graham should have had someone else write this book for him. Despite his Harvard education, this poor fellow cannot write a captivating book. One suspects that Writing 101 is not a requirement at Harvard, what a pity, had it been, we may have been spared this awful thing masquerading as a book!. It has taken me 3 years to finish reading this. I would start it, put it down in disgust or boredom, pick it up again and try again, only to throw it down again.

The topic is very interesting, not one often mentioned. People are of the opinion that if you are Black, (be you African, African-American, of Caribbean roots), then you are all the same. The facts are different. As in any society, class is a big factor among Blacks. In Southern Africa, where I was born, the people we refered to as 'coloureds'..i.e. mixed-race people, considered themselves superior to Africans. This is not to say they were the 'upper class people', but they considered themselves as such. In the Philippines, I have met people who are very proud of the fact that they have Spanish blood in them. So it is not the subject that bothers me, but Mr Graham and his writing style.

He comes across as a horrible braggart. The book skips around from topic to topic, a little bit of gossip here, a few facts here, a dose of "My mother did" or "My wife said" thrown in, that one gets the nauseating feeling that the author is playing hopscotch with your mind.

It seems as though publishers will publish anything these days. Whatever happened to writing standards? Mr Graham may be rich and elite (in his own mind), I just wish he would spend some of his money getting someone to teach him how to write a good book or better yet, get someone to write a book for him!

Don't waste your money buying this dribble. If you badly want to read it, I will send you my copy, (at present being used as a door-stopper) free of charge!







Rating:
Summary: Almost their ....
Review: Graham tries again and succeeds in describing the black American uppers but fails to get the whole story straight. There was too much name-dropping in this book but it was necessary to identify who some of these black American uppers are. Yes, Graham focuses too much on the upper-middle class which despite his argument most middle-class people are capable of rising to under certain favorable circumstances. Also I do agree that Graham is a member of this class in spirit but not a "member". People must remember he is telling his own experiences and the world through his own eyes not others. If he could have focused more on the real players behind the scenes old and new and compared them the book would have been of better use. Since there is no question that there is a generational gap in the black upper classes; old school and new school. Graham writes basically from the old school point of view yet he is not "real" old school because he would not be writing this book exposing dirty laundry. He is a member but not one of the elites in this beautiful group of upper class blacks. As with all upper classes regardless of race they do not want too much fame and publicity unless it useful to them somehow. Also the argument about skin color is completely absurd and outdated. I know and have seen many in the black upper class how are no where near white European in looks or light skinned, red bones, whatever, etc. They can just afford skin lightner/bleaching creams, hair stylist, and plastic surgery to look more like what they want. Where is this light skinned BS coming from? I am light skinned myself and I don't treat other blacks different based on how European they look because to white Anglo America all blacks no matter how light skinned, dark, or multi-racial they are all "NIGGERS" ... the end. Anglo American elites wrote the rules on race not upper-class blacks. Just like one of the other reviewer's of this book claimed that the black upper class are mulattoes ... get real. Mullattoes don't exist in America this is not Latin America, Europe, or some other (former) European colony. You are black or white; white or non-white, that's it. That is reality, the world should be viewed as it is, good ideals on image should be the goals blacks and other non-whites should strive for! Yes, the black upper classes is mostly filled with multi-racial types but then how many black Americans descended from West African slaves in this country are 100% West African? None are, the number is 0. So every black American is multi-racial ... so that argument is not of much value. In an ideal world people that did look white European in phenotype would be considered white European but racial categorization especially in this country is not based on logical ideals. It is based on fear and stupidity ... hey black Americans did not write the rules on race in America! Also it is completely hilarious that these upper-class blacks want to look white as possible yet don't want to date and marry whites. Does that really make sense? They will not marry whites but want to look white; biologically all their wishing will never come true if they don't stop hoping to look white and get down,dirty, and interracial ...oh my. That's a lot of work in between the bed sheets but I know the job can be done. We have done it before in the past and can do it even better this time around. It is funny because the majority of them actually believe their own wannabe hype but as one other reviewer wrote if a black person really wants someone that looks white, they will marry a real white person. Yet, I have seen some in the black upper class who have married whites and West Africans ...now we can assume the paper bag test is dead. Blacks will never move ahead in this country unless they get rid of this ghetto mentality of "isolationism". It's time for blacks that have common sense in this country to re-join mainstream America, the international community, and actually attempt to become members of the middle class, upper-middle class, and upper class. Not the black middle class, black upper-middle class, or the black upper class but the real American mainstream class structure. Sink or swim. It's time for black Americans to tap into real power, real money, and real sex; that's the key to success. Mix it up ... trust me at the end of the day you will still be black and not lose your historical identity.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Eye Opening
Review: This book was very informative and gave an up close look into the lives of the some upper classed african americans. I think this book was a true look into that culture from the eyes of someone living it. The contraditions the author makes in his book is a clear indication that the elitists know that some of their practices are not okay yet they don't care. This is the society they chose to live in and in America that is okay. No, I would not want to be a part of that society, but the author makes it clear that you have to be born into the society and that no matter how much money you make, one cannot just join. This book will give you a better understanding into that culture and either you appreciate the insight or not.