I think this book is fabulous -- providing inspiring to dispiriting views of human nature, inclusion, exclusion, and the decisions we make. The exquisite relationship between family, personality and social convention is well-supported by a solid academic framework. The Cast of Characters in front, Timeline in back provided steady and loyal guidance throughout the growth and development of the family tree. Our book club questioned the use of the term 'dynasty' in the subtitle, one of many potentially juicy discussions inherent. Enjoy, and be wiser.

This book was enlightening to the world of the Black "elite" that was "created" during the Reconstruction Period. As I read, I didn't know whether to be awed or disgusted by the lengths that African- Americans took to maintain the approval/acceptance of this group.

We had an African-American Senator, born a slave in 1841, that served his full term (six years in office), in 1880.

To this day there have only been six black American members of the United States Senate, five elected. Only three have served full-terms. The six are Revels (R) Mississippi, Blanche Kelso Bruce (R) Mississippi [full-term], Washington, DC’s own Edward Brooke (R) Massachusetts [full-term, 2], Carol Mosley Braun (D) Illinois [full-term], Barack Obama (D) Illinois (vacated his seat when he won the 2008 Presidential race), Roland Burris (D) Illinois (filled seat vacated by Obama).

Very interesting book. It actually read as a novel. I have just never known this aspect of american history.

Wonderful book, wonderful writer, disturbing conclusion. It begins well, first full term Black senator Blanch K. Bruce gathers wealth and power but ends horribly with a grandson going to jail and his own son dying poor and unknown. Graham is a gifted story teller who makes all the numbers and facts fun and informative.

A historical account of a little known fact – Blanche K. Bruce was born a slave in 1841 and rose to become the 1st African-American man to serve a full term in the United States Senate. He also served as Register of the Treasury; both high-ranking government positions that provided significant wealth and prestige. Together with his wife, Josephine, they produced a son, Roscoe C. Bruce Sr., who with his wife Clara, produced a son, Roscoe C. Bruce Jr., who eventually – through his overblown ego, and entitlement issues – shamed the Bruce family name.
Political, social, and financial progress made by African-Americans during Reconstruction had come to a grinding halt when the South took control of the country’s political landscape, and after the death of the patriarch, Blanche, the son and grandson splurged the family’s fortune in an effort to “keep up with the Jones’.” Blanche’s political connections were no longer viable resources for Roscoe Sr. who later found himself begging the Rockefeller family for employment as manager of Harlem’s Dunbar Apartments; a relationship that would also suffer due to Roscoe Jr’s illegal activities.
Sadly, Blanche K. Bruce was a man who worked tirelessly to build a life for his family, but not to improve life for his constituency. He didn’t stand firm on issues that he knew were important because he was more concerned with maintaining his connections and stature – in essence, he was a coward. Roscoe Sr. who directly benefited from his father’s wealth and privilege became a highly educated, self-aggrandizing, greedy, selfish snob who sought prominence based on his father’s position in government. Roscoe Jr. grew to be a petty criminal who served jail time. Both died penniless. I think the author, Lawrence Otis Graham, did a fine job depicting the dichotomy that existed within many light-complexioned, well-to-do African-Americans during Slavery, and Reconstruction; which was to suffer the belief that they were somehow separate from their African-American lineage because of their social class, and political affiliations, and should be entitled to certain privileges irrespective of their race. The Bruce's avoided dark complexioned African-Americans, including members of their family, and soon became unwelcome in both sectors of society – black & white.
Herein, Mr. Graham also gives an account of the strongly opposing (and infamous) philosophies between two very prominent African-American figures – W.E.B. DuBois, and Booker T. Washington.
This book, as it depicts the life of one family during a contentious time in history, is a sweeping indictment on class, race, and politics in America. A good read that I highly recommend.

The Senator and the Socialite is the true story of Blanche K. Bruce, a Mississippian who was the first elected black senator to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. In the book, Graham chronicles the Bruce family’s rise to prominence during the 19th Century, a time when blacks were truly on the bottom rungs of society. Graham also relates the story of the family’s subsequent decline in the 20th Century.

As a black Mississippian, I’d heard of Bruce before reading this book. He was one of the famous names that Mississippi school children hear about as they’re growing up and learning about state history. But I’d never read more than paragraph about him, even in grad school. When I first noticed this book on my mother’s dresser, I couldn’t pass up the chance to read a whole book about not just Bruce but also his family.

The Senator and the Socialite starts off great. It’s historical non-fiction, but it’s certainly not a dry read. Graham is a very capable writer. As expected, I learned a ton of new stuff. For example, I had no idea that Mississippi has had a black Lt. Governor. Alexander K. Davis served as Lt. Governor under Adelbert Ames. Even more amazing is that Davis and Ames were elected in November 1873.

The more I read about Bruce and his wife, Josephine, the more I didn’t like them, which is something I hate to admit. They both seemed extremely opportunistic, and there doesn’t seem to be any justifiable reason for it. They both wanted to acquire and hold onto power, even when it meant neglecting their extended family. When I think of historical figures who accomplished great things, I tend to think of them as having pure reasons for their actions, and I find myself holding them to a kind of lofty ideal. When I read accounts like what’s in The Senator and the Socialite, it brings these people down to reality, and I realize that they were humans with flaws, like the rest of us. I guess that can be both a good and bad thing.

Unfortunately, my dislike for the Bruces isn’t limited to Blanche and Josephine. I feel the same about Roscoe, their son, though, his personality isn’t totally his own fault. His parents were often so busy with their own professional and social obligations that they didn’t spend any time with their kid. It’s heartbreaking to read about how he wanted to get to know them, how he yearned for closeness with them, but they just weren’t there for him emotionally.

In Chapter 15, we finally get an instance where Roscoe doesn’t seem like a snob. Josephine wanted him to marry someone from a wealthier family so that problems wouldn’t arise due to mismatched financial backgrounds. Her brother’s first wife was a woman from a family of more modest means than theirs, and when they split, she took everything he had - literally. The woman took all his possessions. Josephine didn’t want Roscoe to succumb to the same fate. But Roscoe didn’t budge. He wanted Clara, even though her family was middle class and not as wealthy as the Bruces.

As I began Chapter 15, I thought that Roscoe may have matured and turned over a new leaf, but my thoughts were premature. Right before his marriage to Clara, he was such an brat about the wedding and who was supposed to pay for it. He wanted a grand wedding but he wasn’t willing to help Clara’s family pay for it, even though they couldn’t afford all the things he demanded. I’ve never heard the term groomzilla, which would be the male version of a bridezilla, but I would say Roscoe definitely qualified. He wouldn’t help pay for the wedding, and he was unwilling to postpone it so that Clara’s family could save some more money for it. Also, he made Clara leave school to marry him and suggested that she was immoral for wanting to postpone so that she could finish. What a jerk!

Josephine had at least one moment of redemption, too. In Chapter 16, she decided to pay her workers, going against the advice of her asshat brother-in-law. So the Bruces weren’t totally opportunistic about everything. To be fair, the Bruces aren’t the only ones who seemed less shiny to me by the time I finished the book. Through the accounts that Graham decides to include, he also manages to make Booker T. Washington seem like a cretin.

Final Opinion

While it was certainly interesting to read about this extraordinary family, I can’t help but feel sad about the outcome. In a way, even the modern family doesn’t leave any hope for a happy ending for the “dynasty”. Nearly all of the Bruce descendants have disappeared or have chosen to obscure their family ties to the family. Some of the descendants live as white people and refuse to acknowledge ties due to racial reasons. And many of the family members who look black don’t necessarily feel the need to embrace the family history.

Honestly, my opinion of Bruce and his family kept declining throughout the book, and they never really were able to redeem themselves to what my opinion of them had been prior to reading the book. Granted, prior to reading the book, I’d known very little about them, but I’d had a positive perception because of Blanche Bruce’s role in the history of Mississippi and the nation. The Senator and the Socialite was a great book, but the story it tells is overwhelmingly sad.

Interesting to learn this part of our history - facts that are not taught in school. You have to give him his props for accomplishing what he did considering his beginnings - you can learn from his determination. However I wasn't super impressed with Blanche Bruce from the standpoint that as a public figure he was not a man of the people. He was strictly a man of status which his family paid for eventually. In terms of the book - it was not Mr. Graham's best writing. It was repetitive, disjointed and I felt drawn out. I was ready to finish it and It feels like he wrote it hurriedly.

You've probably never heard of Blanche Bruce. I know I hadn't until I bought this book. Which is odd given the importance this man has in American history. In 1874 Blanche Bruce became the first black person elected to serve a full Senate term. That was an amazing accomplishment for a man who was born a slave. Hell that's an impressive feat even today, given that since Blanche Bruce there have only been 9 black people elected to the U.S. Senate.

You read that right in 146 years only 10 black people have been elected to the U.S. Senate!

But given how America treats black people I'm actually surprised we had that many.

The Bruce family were a BIG deal in post Reconstruction America. They were close friends with President Ulysses S. Grant and Blanche Bruce became the first black person to have his name printed on U.S. money while he was working as a register at the treasury department. The Bruce family were multimillionaires and they had a lot of power. Power they never used to help other black people. In fact Blanche and his wife Josephine thought they were too good for others in their race. The Bruce' mostly kept their distance from fellow blacks preferring to pal around with white people. While in the Senate Blanche refused to speak out against Jim Crow Laws and he only under extreme pressure spoke out against the epidemic of lynching happening at the time.

The Bruce family's treatment of fellow blacks is the main reason you've probably never heard of them. The Bruce family was broke and begging for help from the black community within 60 years. As you can understand the black community wasn't interested in helping a family that had no time for them when they were on top.

So where are the descendants of the Bruce family today?

They are living in middle America passing as white folks. They refused to attend the Senate unveiling of Blanche's Senate portrait in 2002.

Despite my loathing of this vile family, I enjoyed this book. Lawrence Otis Graham weaves a remarkable tale that is never boring. This book is not only about the history of one family. It is the history of America.

A must read!

Thoroughly researched and very informative.

Easy to follow story of Senator Blanche Bruce, Reconstruction politician, his wife, and their son.