{"product_id":"certain-people-americas-black-elite-paperback","title":"Certain People: America's Black Elite - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eStephen Birmingham\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCertain People\u003c\/i\u003e is an extensively researched, fascinating, and intimate portrait of America's black elite which reveals the rarely publicized world of the heritage, conflicts, and characteristics of the black upper class.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike its white counterpart, the black elite is divided into the nouveaux riches and the Old Guard. Birmingham's close-ups of the lives of two Chicago multimillionaires-John H. Johnson, president and executive officer of the Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of \u003ci\u003eEbony \u003c\/i\u003eand several other magazines; and George Johnson (no relation), founder and president of Johnson Products Company, manufacturer of a wide range of black cosmetics such as Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen-illuminate the characteristics of the black nouveaux rich. In addition to the business coups of these archrivals, Birmingham probes their private lives-the way they dress, decorate their homes, eat, and raise their children-to reach an understanding of the self-made black tycoon.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite the financial success of John Johnson and George Johnson, these men were not seen as socially acceptable by members of the black Old Guard: families-mostly educators, philanthropists, or society dilettantes-based mainly in Washington, DC. Mirroring the classic battle between established families and newcomers in white society, the black Old Guard admires dignity, discretion, and stability more than wealth. With the help of some of the families themselves, Birmingham traces their ancestry back to the pre-Civil War era and unveils the nuances attendant upon \"passing\" into white society, upon white ancestors, upon the recognition of the African heritage, and upon membership in the exclusive clubs and organizations that proliferate the black upper class.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a scholar of black history, genealogy, and sociology, Birmingham offers not only a comprehensive view of the emergence of a stratified black society but also a sensitive portrayal of black-white relationships in business, recreation, social functions, and other spheres of contemporary American society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStephen Birmingham\u003c\/b\u003e (1929-2015) was an American author of more than thirty books. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Williams College in 1953 and taught writing at the University of Cincinnati. Birmingham's work focuses on the upper class in America. He wrote about the African American elite in \u003ci\u003eCertain People \u003c\/i\u003eand the prominent Jewish society in \"\u003ci\u003eOur Crowd\" The Great Jewish Families of New York\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Grandees: The Story of America's Sephardic Elite\u003c\/i\u003e, and \"\u003ci\u003eThe Rest of Us\" The Rise of America's Eastern European Jews\u003c\/i\u003e. His work also encompasses several novels including \u003ci\u003eThe Auerbach Will\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe LeBaron Secret\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eShades of Fortune\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Rothman Scandal\u003c\/i\u003e, and other nonfiction titles such as \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Rich\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Grandes Dames\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLife at the Dakota: New York's Most Unusual Address\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 342\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.76 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 04, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48821280997625,"sku":"9781493024711","price":26.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0789\/2782\/3097\/files\/ufH6Hx_axU9781493024711.webp?v=1786779314","url":"https:\/\/bookscloud.io\/products\/certain-people-americas-black-elite-paperback","provider":"BooksCloud Book Dropshipping","version":"1.0","type":"link"}