By Raymond A. Jetson
Aging While Black: A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America is a clarion call to reject the deficit narrative that is overused in discussing aging in Black communities. In this work, it is replaced with one grounded in agency, possibility, and purpose. This is a book rooted in urgency and radical hope.
Aging in America is not an age-neutral experience. For older Black Americans, it is a life experienced at the intersection of racism and ageism: where longevity comes at great cost, but is rarely celebrated. And yet, despite a lifetime of being underestimated, overlooked, and underserved, Black elders persist. But they are not just survivors. They are builders, cultural anchors, wisdom-keepers, and catalysts for change.
American culture is structured to worship youth and discard age. For Black elders, the risks of forced invisibility are even greater. When systems and structures fail to see them as essential, they are more likely to be excluded from decisions that shape their lives. When data overlooks them, resources are eliminated. When the media erases them, so does the country’s attention.
But here’s a radical assertion: Black elders are not liabilities to manage. They are vital threads in the American fabric. Their wisdom has been forged by struggle and molded by spiritual and communal wisdom. And they continue to contribute to their families, neighborhoods, and faith communities, often hidden in plain sight.
I came to this work through a personal journey and a professional calling. I am the caregiver to my 92-year-old mother. I am a former legislator, pastor, and social innovator who has spent decades walking with and being a voice for the marginalized. I am also the 69-year-old founder of Aging While Black, a movement to transform how we see, engage, and celebrate Black elders.
Both the movement and the book reject the romanticizing of aging. Rather, the choice is to reimagine it. The structural barriers that cut lives short, limit opportunity, and suppress voices are named unapologetically. Black brilliance, ingenuity, and intergenerational energy are spotlighted. They are all too often and too easily overlooked.
But Aging While Black is not only for Black elders. It is for everyone who cares about justice and the kind of future where no one is left behind. I believe deeply that the way we treat our elders is the clearest indicator of our values. I am convinced we can do better.
What if everyone had an unfettered opportunity to thrive throughout the life cycle? What if hard earned wisdom and a still burning fire were seen as fuel for change? What if value and potential were able to be seen without the filter of stereotypes?
It doesn’t matter if you are Black or not; you have a role in this reimagining. You can begin by listening deeply to the elders in your life. Ask questions designed to learn and connect. Disrupt systems that ignore the lived experiences of those most impacted. And above all else, refuse to tolerate invisibility. This includes yours or anyone else’s.
Aging While Black is not a closed conversation or community. It is an open invitation to join together in building a more just and generous society.
Because the opportunity to thrive in America should be a race-neutral experience. Aging While Black: A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America: Jetson, Raymond A.: 9798889264538: Amazon.com
