Lonely at the Top

by Christina Lewis Halpern

Anxiety, fear of failure, self-consciousness: these are not the qualities you imagine when you hear the word “heiress." But in this powerful account, Christina Lewis Halpern applies a journalist's eye to her own struggles following the death of her father, the late entrepreneur Reginald F. Lewis, when she was 12.

At the time of his death in 1993, Halpern's father was the richest black man in America, the Jackie Robinson of American business. His bestselling biography, "Why Should White Guys Have All The Fun?" details his amazing-rags-to-riches journey from the poverty of segregated Baltimore to the board rooms of Wall Street.

This essay, a mix of memoir and reportage, is an exploration of Lewis's legacy: a bluntly honest and deeply human account of what it’s like to be the sensitive child of a rich and powerful man. As Halpern follows the past to seek the secrets of her father’s success, focusing on his time at Harvard Law School, we learn the story of an American legend, but also the complexities of living with his legacy.

Genres: Nonfiction

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Christina is a journalist and essayist whose writing has been published in the New York Times Magazine, The National Catholic Reporter and other publications. She is a former real estate reporter for The Wall Street Journal and a former night cops reporter for The Stamford Advocate. Christina graduated from Harvard College, where she wrote an opinion column for the school newspaper. She lives and works in New York City with her husband, son, and dog.

Reviews

[SassieFrassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christina Lewis Halpern, a well-educated, wealthy young woman, writes of her struggle to understand her place in the world. Her father was Reginald F. Lewis, the late African-American billionaire. In this short memoir, Halpern often expresses doubt, insecurity and discomfort. She is unsure that she deserves the status and wealth that her father's success affords. She is particularly uncomfortable with the fact that Lewis was admitted to Harvard Law School without making a formal application. Fearing that her father would not have been as successful without such an exception, Halpern researches her father's years at the law school.

Reading offers incredible opportunities for empathy. But sometimes finding that connection with the author/subject is a struggle. As I was reading the first half of "Lonely at the Top," I had to remind myself to relax and be open minded. I was tense because the author seemed to apologize for her father's incredible success and good fortune.

The tone of the essay changes when she interviews her father's classmates, professors, friends and family members. These men reminisce about Lewis's exceptional ambition. Alumni share how difficult it was to be a black student at Harvard Law in the 60s. Halpern concludes that her

father knew that he deserved to go to Harvard Law School, and history has proven him right. If race is what initially got him on to the campus, so be it. We do not have to be perfect in order to deserve what we desire. We should not focus on fixing every flaw, but rather focus on what we can do best. We all struggle in this world (though some more than others) and, if we are lucky enough to get a break once in a while, then there is no shame in taking it. In fact, we should seize it, like my father did. Maximize it. Use all our powers to take advantage of it. It is stupid not to. Only a fool scoffs at luck.

This essay has given me much to think about it. My only quibble is with the following assumption: "At the time [1960s], it was a fact that segregation had kept white public schools wealthier and better-staffed than black public schools. It seems natural to accept that students coming from Fisk or Morris Brown would not have the same level of education as students from Yale or Cornell University." These "facts" aren't so obvious to me. Black schools were underfunded but were white schools better staffed? The list of outstanding black educators at black colleges is endless. Google Melvin Tolson, W.E.B. DuBois and Luther Porter Jackson for three examples.

Halpern begins her essay by asking if "in accepting [my father] without requiring a proper application, did Harvard [Law School] lower its standards?" Such exceptions don't seem all that exceptional to me. Perhaps the novelty is that an African-American was able to take advantage.

I can't wait to read Halpern's future reflections on her father's success and her place in the world.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking listen. You never really think about black excellence and black mediocrity because of assumptions. Or that classism exists within the ranks of our educated masses (north vs south, HBCU vs Ivy). But there remains a major issue as yet unresolved and we continue to battle: the pursuit of a quality education to have a life we deserve.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wholehearted, honest book. I enjoyed it. The author is honest about having an extremely successful parent and what it's like following in his footsteps, the pressures, and how the author has contended with those pressures. There are a plethora of useful insights regarding race, confidence, failure, and how to find your own way in the world.

[Jennifer Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just because you are privileged doesn't mean life is easy for you.

Ms. Halpern is the daughter of Reginald Lewis who was a visionary way beyond his time. As a Harvard Law graduate, he had access to opportunities that many of us mever know exist. But how he got these opportunities are revealed.

**Spoiler Alert** - As a law school graduate who suffered through taking the LSAT and not performing at my peak my first year, I am in shock of what Christina revealed about Reginald Lewis' academic track at Harvard and how he got in. Thank you for revealing this, Christina, for now I feel justified by the law school sayings that those at the bottom of the class end up being the richest! I didn't know that Harvard gave failing grades!

When I read stories, I try to relate to them in some way. This story helped clear up many misconceptions that I had about Harvard Law. Thank you, Christina. You have no idea how much you helped me!

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. It is the story of how Reginald Lewis got into Harvard. At the time of his death he was the richest self-made black billionaire in the USA. I was looking for more substance which was not there. It is written by his daughter who for years questioned her true strengths as they related to affirmative action and favoritism bestowed upon her by being Mr. Lewis’s daughter. I was hoping to read more about how he made his wealth, but that was not addressed in any kind of substantial depth.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content was very interesting...I had to take off a star because it ended so abruptly. I wanted more!

[Lincoln · Rating 2 out of 5]

not well written and while the personal memoir was enjoyable, the message was muddled and the story poorly presented. reads more like snippets from a diary than a composed piece

[LL · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzz.....