Rating: 
Summary: Haven't I read this somewhere?
Review: May I suggest those of you that were fascinated by Graham's book read "Certain People," a book discussing the black elite published in the 1970's by a Caucasian man. Unusually, Graham's discussion is almost identical in content as well as chapter layout to the previous author. I wouldn't go as far as to say plagarism but...
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book! An important piece of history revealed
Review: I first saw Graham on a talk show discussing his book and I was immediately intrigued. Here was a man who dared to write about an aspect of black society that has been ignored for too long. I knew right away that the book would be viewed controversially simply because it put blacks in a new light: as entrepreneurs, lawyers, bankers, doctors, and in general citizens with a great deal to offer their communities. I was not at all bored with what has been termed by others as "name-dropping." How are we supposed to be fully aware and appreciative of the great history in this segment of black society if there are no names given? I was saddened in reading the introduction to find that there are some blacks who respond negatively to this book. This book is long overdue and Graham does an excellent job of capturing the essence of these prominent people. Graham's book is informative and has interesting stories that chronicle the struggles that these people endured to pave the way for themselves, their families, and other blacks in society.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Is Well Written and Very Real
Review: As an attorney in my early 30s, I have heard my parents (who are also professionals) talk about the black "elite" many, many times. I grew up with their children and, to some extent, I have shared in many of the activities of the black elite. However, my mother, a dark-skinned woman, really didn't believe in that type of elitism, because she (being in her late 50s/early 60s in age) was discriminated against by those "brown-paper-bag test passing" elites on a DAILY basis. But we still went to country day schools, private schools, lived in exclusive areas, belonged to organizations like Jack and Jill, the Deltas, the Alphas, the Prince Hall Masons, etc. Lawrence Otis Graham's book is real. It made me proud to actually read a part of black history in this country that is long-overdue--that is, the history of our people ACHIEVING against ALL odds--slavery, Jim Crow, segregation in the North, etc. That aspect of the book is great. Also, it's interesting to read so much about the organizations that I participated in as a child, or the organizations that my parents belong to, from another perspective. I guess that I took "my world" a little for granted, and I never really questioned it until I was nearly out of high school. All in all, excellence is what we should all be striving for. We are known for being athletes and entertainers. It was refreshing to read about our accomplishments other than the stories about Benjamin Banneker, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Dr. King, and so forth. Not to diminish their contributions, but to say that there are more black American achievers and contributors to society other than Dr. King and the usual ones that are quoted in the white published history books. A sad part of the book was the rampant color-based elitism. This type of elitism still exists today, but I believe that it's not as divisive. I think we've all gotten a little smarter, knowing that white folks are still laughing at us...all the way to the bank. Kudos to Lawrence Otis Graham for writing this book. I also liked Member of the Class.
Rating: 
Summary: Reality Bites Sometimes, Accept it and Move on....
Review: The book also reminds its readers that classism is alive and well amongst all races.This book gets 4 stars from me because of its significance. It is a very understudied aspect of our hisory in this country. It is painful for many middle and upper-middle class blacks to learn that there is a segment of Black America that views them the way they view lower class blacks; hence, giving them "a taste of their own medicine". It awakens them from their fantasy of being at the top of the food chain. I think this is the root of most backlash against Graham's book. Conversely, middle and upper-middle class whites who read the book are, I suspect, shocked. I would love to see the looks on their faces as they realize that these upper class blacks look down at them from 10,000 feet as well. Come on people...admit it...we all do it to some degree....whether it's the middle-class man who wouldn't dream of taking the proverbial LaKeisha to meet his M.B.A mother, or the articlate's attitudes toward the inarticulate, or the upper-middle who frowns upon the middle's obsession with the brand new, or the upper who rejects the upper-middle's attempts to ascend another ozone layer, because "she is self-made, and tries too hard". It must have taken a lot of courage for Graham to take on this project at the risk of baring some of his innermost insecurities (we all have them) to the world for scrutiny and criticism.
Rating: 
Summary: They are Black!!
Review: After reading the book for a second time and discussing it with my literary society, I discovered that what Mr. Graham wrote about did have a great deal of truth to it.Yet,also it lacked in the sense that it did not let the reader, who is not familiar with this society, understand clearly that not all blacks who come from this upper middle - upper class is a snob aspiring to divide themselves from from blacks in a lower social standing. I also want to correct fellow reviewers that believe these people were not black but mulatto. In a sense, all blacks in this country are not purely African, but to say that this "elite" he speaks of is a group of interracially confused people illiustrates that one is not accustomed to being inside or associated with this group. Coming from a family and friendship circle that hails such qualifications (i,e Jack and Jill, Links, AKAS, Ques, Kappas , and Hampton, Spelman, Morehouse, CAU Proper Vacationing spots) I am 100% sure that a they certainly don't all pass the brown paper bag test meaning that they have not a hint of mulatto(i.e Dorothy West) . In addition, although some have their reservations, they are more than happy to participating in events and charities to help out other other less fortunate blacks. What I believe most people should strive to get out of this book is not that there is a group of blacks that praise eurocentric cultures, snub dark skin and marraige to an undeserving white person. What you should see is that there is a group of African Americans that don't just gain finiancial and social success through a rap lyric or basketball but from a Ph.d MBA or B.S. from there own schools Howard, Morehouse, Spelman, Hampton, Clark Atlanta, Fisk and the ivy league such as Havard Princeton or Yale. You should see that in spite of slavery, jim crow laws and constant daily mistreatment, these people strive to perserve a positive image of black culture through Jack and Jill, Boule , Links, Kappas, AKA, and many others. Personally, it was refreshing that this book came out, because it let other blacks, non-blacks know that there is a world outside of gangsta rap,Monday Night Football and Roots that explain African American goals and accomplishments. It's time for us to clean up this negative image, and with better exposure to such literature, maybe we can.
Rating:
Summary: A Look into a Rarely Discussed Part of a Culture
Review: This books offers an insight into a part of African-American culture/history that is ignored, even unrecognized. The author cites historically references and names, as well as interviews that illustrate a great understanding of certain markers of class both upper and middle. Some of those markers can be viewed as universally applied to both African-Americans and White Americans. Anyone remotely interested in the discussing the influences and effects of class, education, race/color within a group will find this book an execellent resource for comparison and stepping off place. This book begins by blowing away the prevailing stereotype of what the African-American experience is, by throwing in exceptions and alternative experiences.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: I'm about as far from the elite Graham describes in his book but I felt Graham did a great service in presenting the lives of the black elite. It's inspiring to know that there were blacks who-despite the overwhelming odds against them- were able to attain tremendous success in their lifetimes. This goes on to prove that although racism today is as very real as it was a century ago, it cannot be used as an excuse or barrier for success for today's black generation. I was, however, disturbed by the elite's adoption of of the same racist attitudes of some whites against their own brethen. No one can deny the charitable work they've done but one would think that the elite (who no doubt experienced painful encounters with racism) would have a little more compassion for their less fortunate brethen. But no one's perfect. Though at times Graham's descriptions are tedious, generally OUR KIND OF PEOPLE is a good read. I also recommend (shameless promotion) MEMBER OF THE CLUB, which i felt to be the better book.
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Summary: Snobbery Among the Snubbed
Review: This book is fascinating and infuriating at the same time. Whomever edited Lawrence Otis Graham should have had their blue pencil broken in half. This book weeps -- no, sobs -- to be edited. What's with all those lists of the SAME names OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Enough already, get to the point, which is there, but buried. Spike Lee did it first and did it more effectively without all those lists. This book is mediocre, but it could have been great. I lived in D.C. for 20 years and became familiar with the existence of some of the institutions chronicled by Graham. As an outsider, though, I remained ignorant of the privileged details. My worst suspicions about the snobbery among the most snubbed Americans have been confirmed here unfortunately. Racial divide is stupid but even stupider is thinking you're better than someone else because you can throw an expensive party. If the Waldorf Astoria snubbed the Links for so many years, when racial attitudes loosened why did the Links snub the hotel that had been so loyal to them? Think about it! Two wrongs don't make a right. Duh!
Rating:
Summary: A disapointing book on an interesting topic
Review: I bought this book after listening to an interview with the author on NPR. Needless to say, I was very intrigued by the existence of such an important and influential part of America which I had entirely missed. Unfortunately, I found the book poorly written and disorganized. For starters it could have been half as long without any loss of purpose. The anecdotal examples are repetitive and tiresome. In addition, the recurrence of "sore topics" (e.g. "passing for white") ends up loosing the most interested reader. In the end, I think the author missed a golden opportunity to inform the rest of the world about these people who I found remarkable in spite or themselves.
Rating: 
Summary: The "Black" Elites's NOT Black but Mulatto
Review: The main fault of the mulattoes that Graham erroneously calls the "black elite" is that they are too cowardly to make a clean break from the "black" label. If one is "white" in ancestry, phenotype and culture, then calling yourself "black" is the height of stupidity. Even the darker ones will find that most Latinos (also partially black), Asians, Indians, etc. are far darker than they are and disdain to accept the "black" label. What does that tell you? Graham's definition of "black" is someone too tainted and dishonored to be anything else. There is no logical definition of "black." According to Graham, you can be "black" without knowing it. You can be "white" in every way that other whites are and still be "black." That is neither a "race" nor an ethnic group. That is a stigma that should be proudly rejected.
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