Topic: Lawrence Otis Graham

Author Lawrence Otis Graham's background and his book "Our Kind of People" are introduced to explain the origins of the Black upper class. Graham describes how slavery-era divisions between house and field workers created a light-skinned elite based on proximity to white slave owners. This historical caste system established a "light privilege" that persisted through generations in prestigious Black social circles.

Lawrence Otis Graham’s book, *Our Kind of People*, is referenced to provide a historical list of "17 ways to pass" for white. These include attending white colleges in rural towns, changing last names (avoiding names like Curry or Jones), and even "killing oneself off" in the minds of black relatives to start a new life in white society.