I own a copy of the book and I didn't realize that that I grew up around the black elite. Half the kids in my town are J&J kids, my family friends tell my mother she should apply to be a Link, and my dad goes to the Vineyard with his best friends (but he has never taken me or my sister). I didn't know that so many people around me were members of the old guard...to me it was just a known way of life.
I have a good friend that was in Jack and Jill growing up and she is third generation member of "the right sorority."
Her mother is the ONLY black judge in their county and her dad is an anchor man for a local news station. Despite what the book says she is down to Earth, friendly, and realistic. She actually inspires me because she is culturally, socially, and politically aware as well as dedicated to her family, friends, studies, and sorority. She has friends of all races and backgrounds.
Not all black elite's emulate white society. My town chapter of J&J has quite a few Afrocentric community events each year. We also had a program called Project A.F.R.I.C.A every Saturday and you just weren't with it if you did go. *lol* There were a lot of Link moms that were teachers for that program. There were a lot of upper-class black children there, but there were also middle/lower class children that came as well. It was a city thing...
I love my town and I am very proud of it. It very rare to see a large BLACK community where 80% of the people are professionals, where most of the kids go to college, and where most of the people VOTE and GET ACTIVE. I love driving down the street and seeing nice houses that have lovely lawns, nice cars in the driveway, and smiling at the little BLACK children playing outside in the yard.
Still, my family is not what a lot of people would called elitist. My mom says she's not a Links type of person and my dad rejected sponsorship for me and my sister to join J&J. His reasoning was that we lived in an upwardly mobile back community and if we wanted to socialize with upwardly mobile kids all we had to do was go to school.
When I tell people where I'm from some of them say "Oh you think you cute" or "Ya'll some bougie negros." Sometimes people automatically assume I can't relate to them. If I hear one more brotha call me "rich girl" it's ON!! *lol* Anyone that knows me knows that I'm the type of person to befriend anyone that appeals to me. That goes beyond finances and breeding.
But in the real, they can call me whatever they want. I'm glad I came from where I did. Without the knowledge that I learned from my environment I don't know if I would be the person I am today.
Hope this helps your interest.
[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited December 04, 2000).]
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