The Wearing of the Green

It might be St. Patrick's eve, but the celebration for the new book Black is the New Green had little to do with Ireland and everything to do with the purchasing power of what are called AAAs--Affluent African Americans. Written by Uptown magazine publisher Len Burnett and by Andrea Hoffman (left), founder of a market research firm called Diversity Affluence, the tome talks about the buying habits of wealthy people of color in the United States, a group whose purchasing power is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2012.

There was certainly affluence on show during the book launch this evening, which was held at the North Cabana of the Maritime Hotel, in Chelsea. Sponsored by Belvedere Vodka, the soirée amply demonstrated that the Irish aren't the only ones who know how to have fun with a little green. For a look at the book, check it out here. For more party pics, click here.