Black Bourgeoisie: The Book That Brought the Shock of Self-Revelation to Middle-Class Blacks in America

by E. Franklin Frazier

A classic analysis of the Black middle class studies its origin and development, accentuating its behavior, attitudes, and values during the 1940s and 1950s.

When it was first published in 1957, E. Franklin Frazier’s Black Bourgeoisie was simultaneously reviled and revered—revered for its skillful dissection of one of America’s most complex communities, reviled for daring to cast a critical eye on a section of black society that had achieved the trappings of the white, bourgeois ideal.

The author traces the evolution of this enigmatic class from the segregated South to the post-war boom in the integrated North, showing how, along the road to what seemed like prosperity and progress, middle-class blacks actually lost their roots to the traditional black world while never achieving acknowledgment from the white sector. The result, concluded Frazier, is an anomalous bourgeois class with no identity, built on self-sustaining myths of black business and society, silently undermined by a collective, debilitating inferiority complex.

Genres: History, Race, Politics, Sociology, Nonfiction, African American, Economics

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Edward Franklin Frazier was a pioneering African-American sociologist. Frazier received his B.A. from Howard University, his M.A. from Clark University, and his doctorate from the University of Chicago, with which he is most famously affiliated. He was a member of the first Chicago School of sociology, focusing on urban sociology, as well as the intersection of social structures and physical environments in shaping the lives of individuals.

Frazier is best known for his study of African-American family structure in the United States. He argued that the Black family was severely fractured by slavery, a condition which persisted to the present. Frazier also criticized the ways in which middle class African-Americans, as well as the institutions they supported, internalized and emulated mainstream ideas about social structures, class and achievement, while resisting identification with the majority of African-Americans.

Reviews

[Matthew Quest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This analysis of the Black middle classes from 1952 continues to offer fresh insights. One cannot be familiar with the cultures of Historically Black Colleges in the South or the perspectives of Black media without having perennial eye opening moments from reading this book. Often providing a scathing analysis, HBCUs are presented as inventing a false elite, and the Black media as inventing notions of political economy for the entire community which elevate the petty projects of Black Businesses and their owners as members as the cream of high society. Read the book and look around and evaluate what Frazier is talking about for yourself.

[Eric Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly lives up to the shocking revelation part and sadly not much has changed since its publication in 1957, yea very deep. Its alot of stuff that I already knew, but its roots are so disturbingly clownish that often when I was reading this on the El coming home my face was twisted as if I was sucking lemons

[Phil Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely important, a must read. Especially for Black Americans.

Please read "The World of Make Believe" very carefully. Though this book was written in 1955 virtually nothing has changed in regards to our middle class in 62 years. This is not hyperbole. Virtually nothing has changed. Every sickness and neurosis that Dr. Frazier outlined in this section is on full display in our every-day reality (as well as reality TV and YouTube, where black middle class women whine endlessly about "white women stealing black men"). The love for material junk, the vile aesthetic tastes of affluent African Americans (has anyone seen the inside of Kanye West's home???), the need to "show off" with money, the glaring self-contempt (blond weaves and blue contact lenses, hello!!), the moral, spiritual and intellectual flabbiness of middle-class black men, etc., etc: everything that you see happening today in this fucked-up caste of clowns has been happening for decades. The only problem now is that this caste's moral failings has infected the entirety of Black America.

[Born Uhuru · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. Franklin Frazier leaves no stone unturned.

“I’ve often thought that if Mr. Ostrowski had encouraged me to become a lawyer, I would today probably be among some city’s professional black bourgeoisie, sipping cocktails and palming myself off as a community spokesman for and leader of the suffering black masses, while my primary concern would be to grab a few more crumbs from the groaning board of the two-faced whites with whom they’re begging to “integrate.”
-Malcolm X

From the summary of the book I knew it would be something worth reading. Not sure of what but halfway through I overstood that “if I were bad and boujee, umm I mean black and bourgeoisie I’d be trying to kick his ass too, or encouraging someone else too.” E.Franklin Frazier is relentless in his approach to this phenomenon. Initially I couldn’t tell if he had self-hatred or really trying to inform the masses? Black or white? Wasn’t sure, but he left no stone unturned when he spoke on inferiority and black business. He speaks so much truth, it’s a wonder if this title became the official playbook of the black bourgeoisie because NOTHING has changed.

Not literally NOTHING, well maybe except a few things. Negroes love more than just Cadillacs now and it only takes 5 seconds of any sort of behavior to receive likes and instant gratification. No amount of effort needs to be put into being black bourgeoisie anymore except maybe a social following. I have yet to meet anyone physically who hasn’t exalted themselves with ideas of business or wealth. You see it in all of the “follow the leaders, tv/radio personalities aka salesmen, omg social media revolutionaries (selling shirts, I mean building their BRAND “new same type of bullshit”), ball players, etc.” It’s never nothing serious either except for the CONsumption of something.

This book deserves to be in everyone’s hand because it’s actually a well needed read. We need to be fully aware of what E. Franklin Frazier says in this book so maybe we can actually trod forward. Damn the prestige and the ism’s. I can’t stand someone who equates life to money and presentation.

I’m not even finished with the book and I don’t know if the violent impact that the Black Bourgeoisie brought upon us is spoken about. Since the flashing of red handkerchiefs of the fortunate seems to strike some egotistical nerve in the less fortunate of us. But they are a huge part of this problem. If you want to continue blaming the less fortunate then go ahead but the child learns from it’s OWN family before it learns from anyone else.

Don’t get me wrong we do need some form of ism and maybe that’s just some good ol’ REALISM. We and I mean black folk don’t need to follow anyone down any dim alligator infested alley expecting to be safe on the other side just on the hopes of a brighter future.

[Pascal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic by famed Black sociologist E. Franklin Frazier that provides a searing and honest assessment of the Black upper middle class. The analysis is often blunt and hard hitting but intellectually honest.

[Beverlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

To think this started off as me being curious what it really means to be "bougie". Frazier's study, originally published in 1957, still rings true today in some ways. I think the line between "the masses" and the middle class has all but dwindled to a mere couple of dollars. The values of the middle class are supposed to reflect the majority, so...if one doesn't agree, is that a bad or good thing? I think moral beliefs shouldn't be separated into black and white, it should simply be right and wrong. I agree with Frazier's assessment of self employment- in that black people haven't created major corporations, but that doesn't mean one shouldn't run their own business. I thought Frazier's assessment of Christianity and the Black Bourgeoisie raised an interesting point of how religion was presented in a demeaning way during enslavement- in this position because of a curse. Yet most Black people have a strong belief in God regardless of socioeconomic status. The most entertaining passages of the book in my opinion dealt with Frazier's analysis of the lack of culture and common behaviors of the middle class. One has to wonder if personal experience has anything to deal with his harsh criticism- "the decor of their homes reveals the most atrocious and childish tastes. Expensive editions of books are bought for decoration and left unread. The black bourgeoisie, especially the section which forms Negro "society", scarcely ever read books for recreation. Consequently, their conversation is trivial and exhibits a childish view of the world" (p 208). Overall, reading Frazier's study left me not wanting to be a part of the black bourgeoisie. I think I'd rather be true to who I am rather than lose my identity to fit in with a group of lost people.

[Alonzo Vereen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Bourgeoisie analyzes, with acuity and verve, why so many wealthy black folk believe money is going to save them.

Taking it all the way back to slavery, E. Franklin Frazier exposes how certain subgroups of the African-American community were able to form the black bourgeoisie. He then takes readers through the first half of the 20th century to explain how “entry requirements” for the black bourgeoisie shifted from one’s skin color to one’s financial status, and how this shift created, within the black bourgeoisie, a toxic culture of materialism.

Through it all, he maintains that the creation of the black bourgeoisie, much to the consternation of its members, did not and will never provide the kind of freedom and peace of mind they so desperately desire — we all so desperately desire. Conspicuous consumption and opportunistic business ventures won’t make any of us free, he argues. Only a genuine interrogation of the lie that the black bourgeois lifestyle perpetuates — a lie steeped in Eurocentric mores and values — has that kind of power.

Though published first in 1957, I believe we still have, as Frazier put it, a world of blacks who “are agreed that money and conspicuous consumption are more important than knowledge.” And what are we to do with that?

[R.K. Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Good historical data and references, although I found Frazier's critique of the Black elite to be, well, outright disparaging and contentious. I don't know much about his personal life other than the fact he was one of five children brought up in what may have been a middle class household, by his bank messenger father and housewife mother. I wonder if such a harsh critique is the result of his personal knowledge of this particular group or superficial research. However Frazier came to his conclusions it's clear he much prefers his Negroes shiftless as opposed to highfalutin. Oh well...

[Yasmeen Jaaber · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay this was a really quick read, and an easy read at that. delusion seems to be the word of the week for me. how different are delusions of wealth and delusions of confidence in general? is there a difference between needing a delusion that you're wealthy / needing a delusion that you're important / needing a delusion that you can change the world? id be curious on how this study would look if done today. i think there is way more black middle class interest in things like art, and entertainment and even social change... and im curious about the delusions that emerge from there. yeah... like if we're not talking about fraternities, sororities and maybeee the church (but idk) im curious about the modern day equivelant to black bourgeoisie "society", and i feel like black pride has been ramped up way more in recent years. there's still a lot of dissonance w/ middle class black people as far as feeling alienated from blackness, but i also think there's another mode of overcompensating by exploiting a cultural connection to blackness, as black culture has become more profitable each year, and black pride was/is pretty lucrative these days. anyway, gave me a lot to think about.

[Sanjay Varma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in the 1950’s. Part 2 describes the make-believe tendencies of black culture that developed when normal career-advancing opportunities were not available to black people in America. I am connecting this with similar behaviors that I observe today, and wondering where the boundary is with “make-believe.”

Specifically, I am thinking of the priority given to socializing. For college students, I have heard that membership in social clubs (i.e. black fraternity/sorority culture) is considered an essential part of a college education, and the necessary foundation for a career development through networking. For University professors, I’m thinking of how Cornel West and bell hooks have become media personalities, and put their energy into social events (e.g. town halls) while producing less research scholarship. For politicians, I am remembering how Barack and Michelle Obama skipped the BET award show one year, but sent a video greeting instead. There was an odd energy in the hall, as if the audience members clung desperately to the words of this powerful couple who had not joined them to socialize in person.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good in one specific way: it warns that the sucess of a few black elites is actually detrimental to all other blacks. However, the book is not always logically sound, tends to be based in bitterness and anger rather than actual analysis, and is colorist against light-skinned African Americans. I would recommend it so long as you go in knowing only a small percentagr of the book is actually useful.

[Randoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

will add comment later...

[Kristl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1957 so much of it still rings true today. This book is incredible.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! He really doesn’t like his fellow African Americans!

While there are useful comments in here, the book spills over with derogatory dismissals of Negro business (fails due to incompetence), Negro middle class men (feminised), middle class women (addicted to poker) and children (spoiled).

Utterly missing is any wider understanding of systemic discrimination and destruction of property ownership and business ventures.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 1957 SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THIS RISING MIDDLE-CLASS GROUP

Edward Franklin Frazier (1894-1962), was an American sociologist who taught at Morehouse College and Fisk University, then for his last 28 years at Howard University. In 1948 he was elected as the first black president of the American Sociological Association. [NOTE: page numbers below refer to a 222-page paperback edition.]

He wrote in the Introduction to this 1957 book, “The primary purpose of this study is to make a sociological analysis of the behavior, the attitudes, and values of the ‘black bourgeoisie,’ a group which began to play an important role among American Negroes during the past two decades. Our analysis will deal with two aspects of the life of the ‘black bourgeoisie’---the first being the real or objectively existing economic condition and social status of the ‘black bourgeoisie’ in the United States, and the second being the standards of behavior and values of the isolated social world of this segment of the Negro population, which has come into existence as a consequence of racial discrimination and racial segregation.” (Pg. 26)

He notes that under slavery, “While all of the slaves were always under the surveillance of the whites, the house servants lived constantly in close association with their masters…. The house servants were subject to a type of discipline which caused them to identify themselves with their masters… Some recognition had to be given the individual qualities of the slaves, and it was most often among the house servants that these differences were recognized.” (Pg. 17-18)

He acknowledges, “Except in Louisiana, the majority of the nearly 4,000 Negroes in the United States who owned slaves lived in urban communities. In many cases the Negro owners of slaves had bought a wife or husband, a brother or sister, or children, who were slaves and thus became legally slaves of the Negro who bought them. Although it is impossible to say what proportion of the Negro owners of slaves bought them for philanthropic motives, those free Negroes who owned plantations or maintained large estates… owned slaves for the same reason as the white slaveholders. Moreover, it appears that in the cities the Negro owners of slaves were often motivated, as the white owners, by profit in buying and selling slaves.” (Pg. 33)

He states, “There have been only two really vital cultural traditions in the social history of the Negro in the United States: one being the genteel tradition of the small group of mulattoes who assimilated the morals and manners of the slaveholding aristocracy; and the other, the culture of the black folk who gave the world the Spirituals… Some families took pride in the fact that a mulatto ancestor could not be distinguished in his physical appearance, dress, manners, and speech from his white half-brother.” (Pg. 98)

He observes, “The Garvey Movement did not attract any support from the emerging black bourgeoisie. In fact, Garvey… made the mistake of attacking Negro leaders with white ancestry in the United States, where even the remotest Negro ancestry classified a person as a Negro. But… he still would not have enlisted the support of the increasing numbers of Negroes who were acquiring middle-class status. They did not only regard his programs as fantastic, but they did not want to associate with his illiterate and poor black followers.” (Pg. 105)

He points out, “The break with traditional values is seen in the changes in the canons of respectability… among the new black bourgeoisie those values are regarded as ‘old-fashioned’ virtues … Divorces and scandals in family and sex behavior do not affect one’s social status; rather the notoriety which one acquires in such cases adds to one’s prestige. The change in attitudes … is due largely to the face that the bourgeoisie is recruited from those elements in the Negro population among whom these virtues never existed and that money has become the chief requirement for social acceptance.” (Pg. 109)

He states, “With the emergence of the new black bourgeoisie, the standards of consumption which the ‘sporting’ and criminal elements are able to maintain have become the measure of success among the black middle class. The standards which they set are emulated by Negroes in the professional classes---doctors, dentists, and lawyers… [But] in order to secure the money necessary to maintain these standards, Negro professional men engage in the same ‘rackets’ as the successful Negroes in the underworld. Consequently, among the black bourgeoisie an expensive automobile, a ‘palatial’ residence, and a yacht bring more recognition to a doctor than some achievement in medicine. At the summer resorts where the black bourgeoisie gather to display their wealth, the descendants of the old respectable families must defer to the underworld elements, who, through their money, have risen to the topo of Negro ‘society.’” (Pg. 110)

After citing two recent studies of African-Americans in business, he observes, “Neither of these studies revealed the fundamental causes of the failure of Negroes to carry on successful business enterprises. They did not deal with the simple but fundamental sociological fact that the Negro lacks a business tradition or the experience of people who, over generations, have engaged in buying and selling.” (Pg. 139) Later, he adds, “The changing status of the Negro in the United States… has not failed to influence the myth of Negro business… In the world of make-believe they have not taken over the patterns of behavior of the white-collar and professional white workers, but… the patterns of behavior ow wealthy whites… their attempt to maintain the style of living of the white propertied classes has only emphasized the unreality of their way of life. Faith in the myth of Negro business… has been the main element in the world of make-believe that the black bourgeoisie has created.” (Pg. 140-141)

He notes, “Negro salesmen, who are employed by white business and are only sentimentally attacked to NEGRO business, are meeting at luncheons with white salesmen; and Negro salesmen are being featured in the public relations literature sent out by corporations. Yet no Negro businessmen are taken into the white business groups which own and control the life of the American community.” (Pg. 144-145)

He argues that “the Negro press… represents primarily the interests of the black bourgeoisie and promulgates the bourgeois values of the make-believe world of the black bourgeoisie… the reports which the Negro press has given concerning Negro achievements are primarily an attempt to compensate for the collective inferiority of the Negro, especially the black bourgeoisie… it is more often the petty achievements of living Negroes that are reported as if they were of great importance… As the result of the exaggeration of the achievements of Negroes, myths grow up about the accomplishments of Negroes… [or] concerning the importance of books written by Negroes… myths have grown up in regard to the artistic and intellectual achievements of Negroes in foreign countries.” (Pg. 150-151)

He asserts, “The lack of interest of the black bourgeoisie and … the Negro press, in the broader issues facing the modern world is due to the fact that the Negro has developed no economic or social philosophy except the opportunistic philosophy that the black intelligentsia has evolved to justify its anomalous and insecure position.” (Pg. 159)

He recounts. “The reports of the performances of Negro artists are generally misrepresentations of their actual accomplishments. There was, for example, the case of the Negro pianist who, according to the Negro press, had been acclaimed by French critics, whereas in fact the critics had said that her performance was on the level of a beginning student. Similar misrepresentations are reported concerning the intellectual achievements of Negroes in Europe… when a president of a Negro college who could scarcely read French visited Europe, it was reported that he had dazzled the professors in French universities by lecturing in perfect French.” (Pg. 160-161)

He asserts, “Since the black bourgeoisie live largely in a world of make-believe, the masks which they wear to play their sorry roles conceal the feelings of inferiority and of insecurity and the frustrations that haunt their inner lives.” (Pg. 176) He continues, “The black bourgeoisie constantly boast of their pride in their identification as Negroes. But when one studies the attitude of this class in regard to … the social characteristics of Negroes, it becomes clear that the black bourgeoisie do not really wish to be identified with Negroes.” (Pg. 178)

He says, “the attraction of the delusion of wealth is enhanced by the belief that wealth will gain them acceptance in American life… middle-class Negroes make a fetish of material things … They are constantly buying things---houses, automobiles, furniture and all sorts of gadgets, not to mention clothes… The objects which they are constantly buying are always on display.” (Pg. 189)

While Frazier’s too-often negative tone will turn off some readers, this is nevertheless a significant study for those studying the development of African-American sociology.

[Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an in depth look of the Black Bourgeoisie aka the Middle Class that is still relevant in today’s age. I found myself, re-reading some of the texts along with making notes in the book. Some of the content may interested you in further research but the author tries to give you enough context to get the concept of what he is writing about. I liked how this is more of an analysis than a book telling others what to do to break out of this mindset. Many current books today do this but, it’s all on the advice of a single person that may have been a position of privilege.

At the same time, I believe the author is also taking a look within himself since he is one of the Black Bourgeoisie by his standards. He was a Professor and Chairman at Howard University, and a President of two national association.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 1957, E. Franklin Frazier’s study analyzed the history and social an economic standing of black Americans of the middle class up to that point. He at times he is scathing in his rebuke of the frivolous and delusional lifestyle of the deemed ‘Black Bourgeoisie” and explains how they separate themselves from others in the black community yet still are frustrated with their less than status to white Americans. It’s fascinating to read about important court cases, personalities and publications that were fresh or present for Frazier but hold so much historic significance for us today.

[Joi Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite the read and worth the time for all individuals regardless of color or race. Through the reading of this book one can learn a lot, widen their horizon and relate upon the issue of racism.

[Kimeticsolutions · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very best book on uncovering black life from an economic standpoint during the post -antibellum period. Excellent sociological framework.

[JM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the foundation of a study i did Junior year of undergrad. Awesome text. Very informative.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

political incorrectness at the highest level...a classic

[Davu Zulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative and opens your eyes to middle class black people. I highlighted a lot of things to use later.

[Myles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering illustration of the reality of black wealth in America. Funny anecdote but while reading this book on the train I witnessed a near physical encounter between two riders. After one of the combatants exited the train the other person involved took a moment to ask me what I was reading. Strange for someone to narrowly avoid being assaulted on a train and then take a moment to ask about my book, and then stare at me with a look of confusion as I described my reading interest. Anyways, this book made me think of the rhetoric often expressed in black society today and the less than accurate depiction of early black communities that presented itself as financially prosperous. The reality of the black dollar is more complex and truthfully black wealth is not the magic ticket to prosperity and end to discrimination black capitalists claim it to be.

[Sabrina Dawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess you could call E. Franklin Frazier a kind of godless prophet. Yes, God can also speak through the godless. But as a godless unwitting prophet, he can only shed light on the godless, those living in make-believe, rejected by God because they rejected him first. This godless prophet does not realize that blacks in the Americas are actually the children of Israel suffering the Deuteronomy curses for repeated disobedience. "They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation" (Deuteronomy 32:21).

[Marília Moschkovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro extremamente interessante. A aproximação de Frazier com o marxismo, enquanto procurava derivar seu método do que aprendeu na escola de sociologia de Chicago, é muito inovadora para a época. Neste livro o autor questiona a existência de uma suposta burguesia negra que embasaria o american way of life - peça ideológica fundamental na guerra fria. Foi ostracizado e perseguido pelo que publicou aqui. Frazier foi o primeiro sociólogo negro a presidir a associação estadunidense de sociologia e foi aluno de Du Bois. Vale a leitura atenta.

[Michael Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This is a heavy book. It's a very negative study of the Black middle class. I can see why it received a lot of criticism. But based on the reviews, apparently, some or all may appear to be true. One of the people that comes to mind is OJ.

Here's the last sentence of the book: The black bourgeoisie suffers from "nothingness" because when Negroes attain middle-class status, their lives generally lose content and significance.

[Dominique James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d love an updated version of this book. I found the book had interesting points but left me wondering who is the Black Bourgeoisie today. I could segment the group in the different ways. One thing I wish the author touched upon was the best alternative path(s) the Black Bourgeoisie should have taken, simply doing the opposite isn’t the answer either.

[Tyler Goldberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frazier writes quite provocatively on the myth of the black middle class, claiming that blacks are attempting to look like white society and they are doing so unsuccessfully. An interesting read, especially from a black author.

[Peilin Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for class. A radical take on race relations in America. Frazier does a wonderful job analyzing the complexity of race relations. What shocked me was how relevant the text was today… society has made little progress combating racism within institutions that exist today.

[Jared Bryson · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

bro really got his hate on in the last part. analysis of non-men lacking, but it is to be expected. generations later and folks still shouting "black business" from the rooftops; he already told y'all what that was gonna do: nothing.