So much of this book made me sad for the so-called upper black people. I also understood even more why there is so much self hate from many black people, from normal everyday people to many wealthy celebrities. It's impeded in their syce. To make it,disassociate. After this book,I am back on my reading journey for more of James Baldwin, Maya Angelo, W E Dubois, etc. work. Whew!

This book portrays “real” black history…. American black history…. that should be taught be our school systems. This book and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson would be my top 2 recommendations as a school requirement. “Our Kind of People” brought understanding and balance to the older generations standards. It explained what they were fighting for and how these generations were able to break barriers. Yes, the elite blacks separated themselves from the general population, but this book explained how they used this status to fight for the greater good.

I was reminded of this book I'd read years ago, because it's Black History Month in the United States, and this book is a part of black history that's not often told.

Did not finish the book.

I find the lives of the Black elite very interesting. We as persons of color are very diverse and come from different backgrounds. That point needs to be understood and that not every Black person is what you see displayed in the media.

On the other hand, it was difficult to read about the colorism and caste system that still exists within this elite class. The snobbish attitudes toward people with lesser means is disheartening. As if, any of us had a choice into what family circumstances to which we were born.

I’m all for Black people doing well for themselves - but I’m not into millionaires and billionaires and the hoarding of wealth - no matter the race. The amount of snobbery, colourism and lightskinned Black nonsense in this book is ridiculous - and I say that as a lightskinned Black woman. The chapter on Black frats and sororities was interesting and one of the prime reasons for wanting to read this book. As was the chapter on the history of Black elites in Detroit - but to look down on Motown stars because they weren’t - in the author’s view - “highly educated”? They were too “new money”? “Coarse?”
Ridiculous.

Even more so was the Black woman who said “white women don’t speak with poor white women...why should I speak to [poor Black women]?”

We know these people exist. It’s just sad they look down on others because of their social status and their disdain for darkskinned people. They all can choke on their burnt Champagne.

I found the subject interesting, but the author made things a bit boring.

A fascinating and necessary book. It's refreshing to see such a full throated and unapologetic celebration of black success. My assumptions and prejudices were challenged throughout.

The research that went into this book was painstaking and careful. That said, it did make the writing somewhat dry.

In a world of their own, this books shines a light on the upper strata of accomplishment and ingroup preference. Some would call this opulent or even snobby but I certainly wish more african americans embraces this way of living
and thinking

This took me a while to get through. It is interesting and enlightening, but it was hard for me to read. It made me feel really upset at moments. Any serious separation between classes (or anything else) just hurts my heart. History lovers may like this.

I loved the book. But I’m not sure I would recommend it for a lot of reasons. If you don’t understand or know the history of the Black Experience in America, this book will frustrate you and you will think he’s just “name dropping.” All of that is in the context of the evolution of Black people in America. I enjoyed that he brought that out; but that was already my understanding. It is a good book to
read along with lots of other books; I don’t feel it is a good
stand alone choice… context is important again. I was in awe of all the names of people that I learned about through my family history and growing up in Atlanta, Georgia; as well as being a witness to the civil rights movement. It was chilling and invigorating to recall names from the past and contemporary history and many of those folks, including the author have passed on. Colin Powell, mentioned in the book, had just passed away. I was in awe of the wealth and resources our great people accumulated in the 1800s - just fascinating. Assess those amounts in today’s dollars and your head will truly explode. It is a thoughtful book. I have another of his and I look forward to starting that one soon.

I found the attitudes of some of 'these kind of people' disgusting, but a lot of their achievements inspiring. I'd recommend this to all blackfolk, ESPECIALLY those who don't read.