Rating: 
Summary: There Not Really black anyway!!
Review: The People Otis Graham is writing About in this Book Are NOT BLACK!! They are Actually Mulatto.They serve as a American Mulatto Elite as found in Haiti,Jamaica,Brazil and Elsewhere. Mulattos and Blacks Have always had a shakey History. This Books is just another example.The People in this Book Have NO Real Con nection With Black People and Have the same White Superiority(LIGHT SUPERIORITY) prejudices As some White People. Save your time,read something positive...
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Emotions
Review: I have mixed emotions about this book. On one hand, Graham is a sharp reporter. Nothing got by him. Every foible of his hosts are ruthlessly exposed but was Graham mocking these awful people or was a tinge of jealousy was involved? Read the Martha's Vineyard chapter and the DC chapter and you'll see what I mean. On the other hand Our Kind of People may save you a great deal of time and energy. Don't even think of going to Oak Bluffs or attempting to join the Links until you've read this it.
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Summary: Where's Larr-O?
Review: An intriguing book in spite of Graham's infuriating propensity to insinuate himself into nearly every account. I doubt he was ever referred to by a nickname as provincial as "Larry" but at times, I felt like I was reading the Black version of "Where's Waldo?" Clearly, he has some issues that demand interpretation by professionals with substantially more skill and training than I possess. The most significant value of OUR KIND OF PEOPLE is as an introductory historical reference to the fraternal, social, civic and economic organizations that came into being during the early 1900s and beyond to facilitate interaction among upward mobile Blacks. Quite often, these organizations were established in response to the discriminatory practices of comparable white entities. It was also interesting to see how the demographics of different regions played a part in determination of which members of the divergent Black communities might be considered "elite," as the characteristics in an area like Washington, D.C. were vastly different than areas like Detroit or Memphis. As Graham notes, the Upper and Upper Middle Classes are segments of Black America that have been minimally studied by anyone, and even less actively acknowledged by the larger community. Still today, Blacks are generally viewed in monolithic terms when the reality is a diversity of views, incomes, aspirations and capabilities, just as one would find with any other ethnicity. Graham's work leans heavily on the recollections of older representatives, many of whom have struggled for decades to distinquish themselves - in the eyes of whites - from the "common Black" on economic, intellectual and social grounds. It is also revealing to discover in many respects the fervent desires of these elite Blacks to be viewed as equals to whites on academic and professional levels were in some respects deleterious to overall progression as the greater emphasis in those high achievement areas served to constrain development of viable infrastructures that may have excelerated growth for the entire race, sort of the "Dubois vs. Washingtion" argument. Dependence on the "old guard" of the Upper Class, is one of the book's unfortunate deficiences. Graham's approach is unavoidable in order to provide an accurate sense of history but regrettably, he also implied a sense of superiority and superficiality that I found mispresentative of the elites in their entirety. In numerable instances, the external factors that may have influenced choices in educational, residential and economic areas were underemphasized, leading to an erroneous inference that discrimatory practices of the time were less of a factor than experience would indicate. Dependence on the venerable further placed greater importance on attitudes formed as a reaction to the era, attitudes not easily nor expeditiously modified with increased opportunities in later years, attitudes not nearly as prevalent among younger, more enlightened Black elites today. Demonstration of "Cross-pollinization" among fraternities and sororities, organizations like Jack and Jill, Links and Boule' was essential to his study however reiteration of biographical information concerning each person whenever their names appeared was monotonous and worse, tedious. At times, the text read like the book of Genesis, and in this case, that's not a good thing. OUR KIND OF PEOPLE has proven to be a work of controversy as it shows bigotry, elitism, and classism are not endemic to any single racial group. Unfortunately, the book leaves the impression those values are as pervasive now among the "Elite Black" today as they may have been forty years ago. Issues relating to complexion are yet a stigma, however depth and tone of one's melanin is not the same constraint it was in the 30s and 40s. Graham allowed the fixation to fester at the end of the book as a larger concern than present attitudes indicate. I recommend reading the book but with an analytical mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Inspiring yet sobering story of the black elite
Review: I'm inspired by Graham's "Our Kind of People". It proves that blacks have been--and continue to be--just as capable, intelligent, wealthy, and appreciative of the finer things in life as our white counterparts. Our young people need to know this part of our history as well as our struggles against slavery and segregation. I believe that our children deserve to attend the best schools and live in good neighborhoods like everyone else. However, I am sobered and saddened by the seeming lack of real desire on the part of the black elite to reach out to the masses of their less wealthy brethren. They seem to feel that their clubs and social groups are solely for them. They fail to see the need to take all this good breeding and social graces and educate our black youth in the inner cities. For example, our young girls in the inner cities are in desprate need of educated black women such as those mentioned in Graham's book to teach them how to carry themselves as proper young ladies, as well as directing and mentoring them in professional careers. Instead, because they are from 'the ghetto', they are excluded from these circles and not deemed as worthy of their time (this would seem to include even those young people from the 'hood who are striving to resist the pressure of turning into thugs and focused on God and education). We need our 'elite' brothers and sisters to pool their resources together and open businesses in OUR communites, where the masses of black people are in serious need of work. When I read Graham's laundry list of talented African-American lawyers, socialites, politicians, doctors, educators and businessmen, there are times when I almost want to weep. Why? Because our communities are in need of the combined efforts of men and women like these to help build up our people, assist in channeling the estimated $500 billion dollars we currently spend back into our communites through competitive businesses, and give our 40 million blacks good-paying jobs; yet very few of them seem to really see the need to share their blessings with those of us who are less affluent. It is divisions like this that are hindering our collective progress as African-Americans, and it's heartbreaking to me. I'm privileged to have been a former debutante in a cotillion that was open to girls of all socio-economic backgrounds, directed by a wonderful woman who saw us as having potential and didn't judge us by the bank accounts and social status of our parents. The black elite listed in Graham's book would probably never have given someone like myself--a teenage daughter of a working-class divorced mother--the time of day. I thank God, however, for this woman being one who did. I have also been blessed to graduate from Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Michigan) with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Media, and I made it because God put people in my life who believed in me and didn't look down on me. The early black elite such as Booker T. Washington, Madame C.J Walker, and Mary McLeod Bethune saw education and wealth as a means to uplift our people, not to look down their noses at them. Let us remember that those of us in the 21st century who have been blessed by God with wealth and education have a double responsibility to be a blessing to others. If I am ever blessed to be where "these kind of people are" financially, I will teach my children to judge people by "the content of their character", not the size of their wallet! If Mr. Graham ever reads this, I would say to him, "Don't forget from whence you came." Remember the rest of us who don't have it as good as you do, yet have just as much decency and dignity as you and your 'elite' friends have. All of us from the 'hood are not ignorant street thugs. My husband graduated from Oakwood College in 1992 (which is a Historically Black College and a beneficiary of the United Negro College Fund) with TWO bachelor's degrees (one in Theology, the other in communication), and was listed in Whos Who in American Colleges and Universities. He was raised in a single parent home and grew up in the projects, yet he made it by the grace of God. Under the standards of the black elite, he wouldn't have had a chance of fitting in with them. What a sad, narrow standard to measure people by!
Rating:
Summary: Subject was interesting....Book was not.
Review: Well, first off let me say this. The book itself was terrible. Graham was gossipy and the book was like reading a shout-out list. I read this book after reading some other ( and more informational) books on the subject, and I was thoroughly disappointed. I could go on about how disgustingly shallow he made the black-upper class, but that would be pointless. Also, Graham seems to be talking about a generation that was long ago. I seriously doubt that many of the "elite" feel the way some of the old timers do. Anyway, if you're looking for something informative and helpful, look somewhere else. Some of the stuff he talked about was common sense.
Rating: 
Summary: An Epiphany
Review: Digest, Discover, Discuss and Disseminate! This is what you must do with this book. Although you may have not liked everything Graham said, it made you look at yourself, and say: What can I do to better myself, and how can I give back>
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Summary: Interesting Read Into A Society
Review: There are two sides to this book. The first is the most important I think. It is important that we are aware of our "non-entertainment industry" accomplishments against such adversity and so long ago. So many of our children believe we began accomplishing things when whites "allowed" us to after the 60s. No, we've been doing it forever. It is very encouraging as a black, educated professional to read about the businessmen, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, etc. in such large amounts. In addition, it is important to see the importance of community involvement. A lot of our people make it and then walk away into the "white" community and leave the rest behind. Now, the other part. What I got from this group was that they have to reject others in order to minimize the rejection they felt from whites. They claim not to concern themselves with whites, but throughout the entire book they continue to comment on how everything they have is comparable to whites. In addition, they claim to be so proud of their blackness, but only include those that look as little like blacks as possible. How can that be? The two ideas are complete opposites. That's like saying I'm proud to be a woman, but do everything I can to look like a man and only associate with other women that look like men. I'm a light-skinned black woman (because of an Irish grandmother), and I felt so embarrassed over some of the "skin tone" comments. Very embarrassing at what I see as an extremely "ignorant" comment from a group that proposes to be intellectual. As if saying "we are better than you because our ancestors had the good fortune of being raped by their slavemasters". How is that something to be proud of? I was really torn by this book, because I know many young (20s & 30s) members of this group that are not at all like the older generation that Mr. Graham spoke to. Overall, I think its worth reading if for only the point that all of those who feel rejected by these groups look at them and understand that you might really be better off.
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Summary: ????????"Upper Class" or "Upper Middle Class"????????????
Review: First of all, the inferiority complex of the author is genuinely evident when he reveals that he had a nose job to look more European, and that he stays out of the sun so that he won't become any darker. Having dealt with "Our Kind of People" as in-laws, however, I found this book to be very entertaining. I always wondered why I was so hated by these people regardless of what I achieved. I think that this book gave me some answers. I'm NOT one of "Our Kind of People!" "Our kind of people" are more quick to brand other black people with the stereotypes often ascribed to African-Americans by European-Americans, e.g., lazy--don't want to work, in addition to hating their slightly darker skin tones. Further, they use the words "that nigger" or "those niggers" more than any southern Johnny Rebel. Lastly, people of the true UPPER class have generally created something of social-economic value for other classes. I saw very, very few examples of genuine upper class status amongst the examples given in the book. Doctors and lawyers are considered by sociologists to be "upper-middle-class." This is a snobby book, but it is entertaining like The Globe, The National Enquirer and Star magazines.
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Summary: A good place to start
Review: I read this book to learn more about Black elitist organizations. I enjoy reading about secret and fraternal organizations, and this book serves as an excellent place to start for the Black organizations, fraternities, sororities novice. It of course provides some "I've been raised in these organizations and so I have the best opinion" overtones, but it nonetheless gives the non-informed Black person more information concerning these groups. I did get a kick out of some of the information. Its funny yet simultaneously disappointing that Black people ranked themselves by the color of a paper bag and ruler. I'm happy to know that some of us have made it much farther than that.
Rating:
Summary: Informative... but dull
Review: The subject matter of this book- an affluent black aristocracy, living in America for generations, virtually invisible to most whites-- fascinated me immediately, and I wanted to learn more. Graham certainly does a credible job of presenting the who, what and where of that world, but the end result is curiously flat, timid and disappointing. All the people in this book end up sounding the same-- whether they're 18 or 80, male or female-- and there's an unpleasant redundancy in the ceaseless litany of resumes, the unreflective preoccupation with social climbing that makes them seem as shallow as a group of affluent white Republicans in Fairfield County. The real problem, I suspect, is not with the subjects of Graham's study, but with Graham himself. He's no writer. There's not a whit of elan, of moral or intellectual originality, of perceptiveness in his narrative. The characters never leap off the page or come to life. In the end, Graham seems as timid, middle-of-the-road and unadventurous as the socialites he describes, and one suspects the subject-- and the group-- deserved an abler chronicler.
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