The Future of Aging and Longevity - Flipbook - Page 48
Aging While Black:
The Past Is Patchwork,
the Future Is Collec琀椀ve
Raymond A. Jetson
Archie Roundtree Jr., JD
Vision Catalyst,
Aging While Black
Senior A琀琀orney,
Jus琀椀ce in Aging
ging in America is marked by unequal
experiences and outcomes. For Black
people, that truth has not changed in
the last decade.
The 昀椀eld of aging and longevity expanded
signi昀椀cantly, with increased focus on caregiving,
age-friendly communi琀椀es, and home- and
community-based services. Civil rights and public
bene昀椀ts protec琀椀ons are integral in helping elders
live with more stability and dignity. However,
aging within the Black community is shaped
by unequal health, fragile income, and housing
precarity, despite the gains. Policies that are
responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking are
needed to address the challenges of aging in
America.
The prevailing mindset views longevity as
an individual accomplishment, trea琀椀ng it as a
A
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late-life occurrence. However, Black aging is
shaped throughout life. Structural racism in
housing, health care, educa琀椀on, work, and wealth
impacts Black people long before they reach 65.
Black life is o昀琀en experienced through extended
family, church, mutual aid, entertainment, and
storytelling. Our engagement with Black people
across America taught us aging while Black is
more than helping elders cope with a broken
system. It requires reimagining 琀椀me together
across genera琀椀ons.
Aging While Black names this reimagined
approach to aging “collec琀椀ve longevity.”
Collec琀椀ve longevity is the shared journey
of a people through 琀椀me, shaped by freedom,
interdependence, cultural con琀椀nuity, and
intergenera琀椀onal responsibility. It re昀氀ects Black
communi琀椀es’ prac琀椀ces, where elders provide
MIL K EN I N S T I T U T E | T H E FU T U RE O F AGI N G A N D LO N GEV I TY
