Lawrence Otis Graham (1961–2021)

Okay, I'm not completely finished with this, but I will come back to it. I found it fascinating! I did feel my ignorance at the number of names I didn't recognize at all. There is so much for me to learn. I got more than halfway through this and had to return it to the library. I will request it again to explore more. I've also been surprised by things mentioned that I now see popping up around me. Were they always there? how did I miss them? A call to open my eyes and wake up!

I only heard of Mr. Graham and his work after reading about his recent, and far too early, death. Member of the Club is a fascinating and insightful collection, as well as a snapshot of an era. "The more things change, the more they stay the same" applies here, and in some of the worst possible ways, but Graham's analysis sheds a lot of useful light, even 26 years later.

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.

I grabbed this after the This American Life piece on the author's undercover country club escapade. The rest of his essays are thought-provoking, offering a viewpoint not often encountered, or at least publicized frequently.