Our Kind of People
Lawrence Otis Graham spent six years of his life interviewing the Black elite in cities all across America. Through this book we learn how the first elite families came about, what educations they have, what jobs they have, and what kind of social groups they are apart of. The Black elite can be dated back to slavery. When they arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619, many slaves were already skilled in many fields. By the 1870's a handful of blacks first broke into the middle-class by attending early black universities such as: Howard, Fisk, Atlanta, and Morehouse Universities. During these early times the black elite most often associated with the Episcopal Church or the Congregational Church. They seemed to like these two denominations because other blacks were not of these faiths. Also during the early days of the Black elite, these members were often members of a membership-by-invitation only group called Jack and Jill. It helped families and their children to meet other families who were interested in educational programs, community services and other activities that helped improve their lives. The Children of such a group even attended their own private summer camp called Camp Atwater in Massachuse
Washington High School, which I briefly mentioned earlier, was the first public high school built for blacks in the state of Georgia. First, the most popular spots for these families to vacation are: Sag Harbor, Long Island, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, and Highland Beach, Maryland. For the women, the most popular were the AKA's and the Deltas. Lawrence Otis Graham explains life for the elite blacks in several cities. Ever student here was required to attend church service at Sisters Chapel everyday, regardless of their denomination. Howard university has been popular for generations, with many students being of third or fourth generation alumni. While they were in college these blacks established and have maintained their own black Fraternities and Sororities. And lastly, the 100 Black Men club is more of a professional organization and less of a selective club. The girl friends would argue that the Links are not like they used to be. Something worth noting here is the fact that Martin Luther King Jr.
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Acceptance Essays
