'Our Kind of People'

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that Lawrence Otis Graham's 'Our Kind of People' casts a probing eye on real-life Cosby families - the rarefied world of the African-American elite that the Cosby family alluded towards. The writer notes that through this account, Graham hopes to introduce and explain the emergence, the rules and the pride that many upper-class black Americans feel towards their own institutions. The writer points out that this paper looks at Graham's discussion of the black elite, at how the author constructed the parameters of being a member of the black elite. This paper then evaluates the validity of Graham's findings through the lens of conflict and critical race theory.

Outline:
Overview of Our Kind of People
Minority Group Relations
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Graham strives to provide context for this chronicle by beginning with a chapter on the historical origins of the black elite. In the next chapters, the author illustrates the values of the members of this black upper crust through discussions regarding children's clubs, cotillions and coming-out parties. These chapters continue with accounts devoted to historically black institutions, such as colleges, fraternities and sororities and private schools."
"The most important chapters deal with membership in the exclusive clubs, a membership that starts in early childhood. It all begins with membership in Jack and Jill, an exclusive club for the children of affluent black parents. This paves the way for an individual to attend the right summer camps, private schools and, most importantly, the right colleges. Historically, this meant institutions such as Morehouse College, Spelman College and Howard University. Today, the "right colleges" refer to the Ivy League, an illustration of the similarities between the black and white elites."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. Chicago: McClurg, 1903.
• Frazier, E. Franklin. Black Bourgeosie. New York: Penguin, 1957
• Graham, Lawrence Otis. Our Kind of People: Inside America's Black Upper Class. New York: HarperPerennial. 1999.
• Wirth, Louis. "Urbanism as a Way of life." American Journal of Sociology. July 1938: 1-24.

More papers on 'Our Kind of People':

• Term Paper # 141389 : "Out of Control: Lindsay Lohan's Deviant Behaviour"
• Essay # 28574 : "The Role of Language in Cultural Identity"
• Term Paper # 101285 : "Moral and Ethical Obligations of Corporations"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: