Name: Our Kind of People
ISBN: 9780060984380

Lawrence Otis Graham

Inside America's Black Upper Class

Our Kind of People

Bria

I know a lot of people have a lot to say about this book, and Lawrence Otis Graham definitely sounds pretentious asl. BUT there’s a lot of great history in this book. A lot of it is outdated, but there's no harm in learning about how the black elite lived back then.

I would also like to point out that since publishing this book Graham has said "I taught my black kids that their elite upbringing would protect them from discrimination. I was wrong." That's important to take into account when talking about Graham.

Also, this book made me wonder what would’ve happened if the Greenwood District in Tulsa was never destroyed. I wonder where those people would be today and what their lineage would look like.

Laura Mauler

This book is essentially a guide for breaking into America's black upper class, and it says as much in the introduction. In this regard it is very good, but as a leisure read it is not quite as enjoyable. The main fault is the detailed listing that the author often falls into when discussing the notable people involved in the various black elite institutions. Overall, it was cool to learn about this affluent and tight-knit community.

Our Kind of People Inside America's Black Upper Class

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