Once again through the pages of racism comes another great novel, 'The Black Bourgeoisie.' The author Edward Franklin Frazier whom has written many other books such as: Negro Family in the United States, E. Franklin on Race Relations and Race and Culture Contacts in the Modern World has truly captured writing.

Through this novel Frazier deals with race among his own people. One can see through the words that it is a very passionate subject that he speaks of. Bringing the reader as close to his understanding as possible. Frazier does this quite effectively through the descriptive words that he uses. The novel tackles all the issues and questions that many black individuals need to know or are curious about. Why some black individuals act like they are better than some of their black people and the Oreo issue.

This book is quite the read and worth the time for black individuals as well as Caucasians. It is a novel that opens the mind to a different way of dealing with the issue of selling out and what the term actually means. Frazier leaves no doors unclosed, explains and ventures the race issue in America. Through the reading of this book one can learn a lot, widen their horizon and relate upon the issue of racism.

This book is a true eye opener of the underlying word of black middle class status. Even though this book was written over 40 years ago, it is very much relevant today. Now I know the "true" meaning to the word socialite. And believe me, it has nothing to do with "true" class.

If you consider yourself a black scholar, then this is a book that you should have read and owned. It covers the rise and myths of middle class black in America.

In my studies of Sociology and Religion I was able to see the evolution of the African American church by first seeing the beginnings of the church during slavery in America. Frazier offers an excellent assesment of how the church grew and answers questions such as how the negro churches became agencies of social control and when the walls broke down and the church left its status as a refuge. But the best thing about this book is that you're given the freedom to read what Lincoln has to say about post-Frazier times and the black church. I, however, feel that Lincoln is very biased in his assesment and doesn't offer an objective view. This book is very useful to any other person interested in the sociology of religion.