Rating: 
Summary: Too much material....
Review: Hey I love a good book and this one would have been good if the author didn't try to tell us every little minut detail. It took me forever to get through it. It's interesting to know about these groups (although I've known about most of this already from family members) but as the saying goes, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'
Rating: 
Summary: Confessions of A Wannabe
Review: I enjoyed this book tremendously. I had a hard time putting it down. I fell asleep with this book on my chest a couple of times when I was up late reading. When I'd wake up, I would just pick up the book again and continue reading where I had left off.
Reading this book was like taking a walking tour of the cities where the black elite live: from Sag Harbor on Long Island to Los Angeles, California, with many cities in between. This book gave me an inside view of the psyche of the so-called black elite. I use the term so-called because not all of the individuals interviewed wanted to be labeled as black elite. I was fascinated with the lives of the descendants of "house niggers" and free black people who were never slaves. I often wondered how some families had gotten such a head start on the rest of us. It was noted in the book that in some cases it was through the benevolence of their slave masters or other liberal whites. Also, some of the individuals in these families were the slave master's biological descendants, which account for some of the fair complexions in these families. The author has done extensive research into the families of the black elite. He presented the information in a very readable fashion. He used direct quotes from people he interviewed, which gave his writing the feel of a good fiction novel. A good story was being told here. It was captivating. My question though is about the author. I had the feeling all the way through this book that the author was a wannabe. He was an outsider looking in. He was not part of the black elite, but wanted desperately to be a part. The author mentioned in the book that he was not able to check off all the boxes associated with the black elite. And on page 45, he even states, "there are serious holes in my nuclear family's resume." Herein, I think, lies the core of the author's central problem--one of an unusual type of inferiority. Caught in the middle and stuck between two worlds--an urban black world and the world of the black elite, to which he aspires. Too good for one class, but not good enough for the other. The only other area of the book that I question was the implied exclusivity given to groups such as the Links and Jack and Jill. In some cities, it is very easy to join these organizations, if one is so inclined. And, it has nothing to do with how "blue" your blood is. Overall though, I feel that I have benefitted from reading this book. I understand better a certain segment of our race and appreciate the historical significance of the black elite. I also gained a significant amount of historical knowledge about black colleges and universities such as Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, Meharry, and others. I've always known about these schools, but did not realize the depth of their history.
I am among the first generation of college graduates in my family. I attended a white Northern university--Michigan State, only because my older brother had attended there. Although I feel that I received an excellent education and was able to join a black sorority, I've always wondered what it would have been like to attend one of the historically black colleges or universities. Though it may not have been the intent of this book, what I really gained from reading it was something more on a personal level. From the information I read in Chapter 4, (Howard, Spelman, and Morehouse: Three Colleges That Count) I gained a greater awareness of the significance of historically black colleges and universities in our society and the need to support them. As a result of this deeper awareness, I will now be making a monetary contribution to the UNCF on a yearly basis. So I thank the author for raising my awareness, I thank him for a good read and hope that he finds peace with himself and his status in life.
Rating:
Summary: Outsider looking in?
Review: As the child of west-Indian immigrants I find the life of the African-American elite fascinating. In fact from my perspective it accurately reflects the ambitions of many immigrants and is a part of their American dream. To be educates, financially successful and the expose oneself and children to the finer things in life is why most Caribbean's come to the US to begin with. We bring these values, aspirations to these shores when we first arrive, and it is therefore not surprising that when you look at the ranks of the "African-American elite" a great number of the in fact is direct descendants of Caribbean and or African parentage. I query then, why this is never reflected in the books on the "black middle-class"?
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book was informing because it was well organized and very easy to read. I could not get enough.... My opinion about the author:
1.You could tell the author well researched his topic. 2.The book was informative, he didn't just fill the book up with irrelevant material just to have a certain amount of pages. 3. He had a complete table of contents that backed the title of the book. 4. He was original in his work. I don't know any other book like it. 5. You could tell that he wanted to make a difference. 6. He clearly obtained his objective and purpose in developing the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Information, But Tedious
Review: Admittedly, I am an admirer of Graham and have been since his remarkable New York Magazine piece. That did not, however, propel me through this book. As important as this effort is, I found the endless lists of names difficult to navigate. I also became bored with some of the unnecessary hype. (An example of Graham's need to emphasize the friendship between Betty Shabazz and his mother. Instead of stating the friendship, in ever reference it was "my mother's lifelong friend," or "my mother's very close friend." Is this book worth reading? Yes. It it a good beach companion? Perhaps in the Vineyard, but not Coney Island. I am glad I have the book in my library, though. It will be a good reference tool.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for all African Americans
Review: This is an excellent book, because Mr. Graham goes into detail about how the black middle and upper class perceive themselves and others in society. I have met some people before in my life where grew up in Jack and Jill and some of the other organizations the author mentions in his book. I did not realize that when those people who were being introduced to me were actually sizing me up to see if I was worthy of associating with them and their circle of friends. I was astonished to realized some of their accomplishments, but most of them were extremely pleasant, courteous and open to a certain degree. However, I did face the confrontation of why I did not attend an HBCU for my undergraduate and graduate studies which rather made me wonder why I did not choose an HBCU. I will say that these group of African-Americans are very much in tune with who they are and where they are going in life.
Rating:
Summary: Seems like L. Graham forgot to mention...
Review: ...that his Dad is not a doctor or lawyer as he seems to want to imply, but a fireman. As I recall, when discussing his family he concentrated solely on his mother's credentials and family. No mention of dad.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting...but
Review: I thought that this book was an easy read and very interesting, but I was expecting an analysis. The author basically provides the reader with some background information about exclusive organizations and gives the names and professions of some of their most prominent members. After reading the book, I knew the names and some historical background about the organizations founded by and for the Black elite, but I felt like the book was more of an overview rather than an "inside look".
Rating:
Summary: Let the Truth be Told
Review: I think this book gives people an insight on how the black upper class live. Until I read this book, I didn't really know that there was a such thing as a black upper class. I am glad that he wrote this book because it lets people know that not all black people are robbers, sports stars, less fortunate, and on welfare. Some of the things in the book are too honest about how clubs pick their own members by what their families did, and skin complextion. It's a shame how our own people are discriminating against one another. I suggest everyone (black and white) should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Dropping the name dropping would make for a better read
Review: i was very excited when i learned of our kind of people and was one of the very first to purchase this book. however, after several chapters i became frustrated by mr. graham's insistence on giving the reader a pedigree account of all of the major players in the book.while some may have found it to be worthy information, i would argue that it takes away from narrative continuity. mr. graham's insistence on exalting his upper class status, makes for a good psychoanalysis of mr.graham. the book gives us interesting information on the "black elite" but it also gives us a clear window into mr.graham's view of the world and of himself. The bible says he who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. i choose the high road of seeking God's approval and not society's. Despite certain misgivings, i still believe that this book is worth reading and that more books should be written on this subject matter. p.s. some of the customer reviews are vicious. a book can be written about the reactions by the readership. hey folks! i think i have an idea....
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