Socio-Economic Status of Older Black Americans: Education, Income, Poverty, Political Participation, and Religious Involvement

Our ability to understand the status and position of current cohorts of older Black Americans must begin with an appreciation of the multiple effects of disadvantaged socioeconomic status they have endured over the course of their lives. This unique disadvantage is the result of membership in two devalued status groups, that of old age and of being Black (i.e., double jeopardy). However, in order to fully appreciate the dual effects of double jeopardy, it is necessary to examine the life experiences of older Black adults within a life course perspective. Present cohorts of older Black Americans are survivors. They were born and raised during a period of time when the rule of Òseparate and unequalÓ was enforced by Jim Crow laws and limited opportunities in diverse areas such as education, health care, housing, and the labor market. In addition, todayÕs older Black adults have had to struggle with the longer term effects of these early life experiences in their attempts to cope with poverty, unemployment, low levels of education, inadequate housing, serious health problems, and poor health care. Yet, despite these significant obstacles, older Black Americans exhibit a high degree of strength and resiliency. Older Blacks have strong kinship bonds, display a high levels of religiosity, and vote on a more frequent basis than their younger Black counterparts. This article presents a brief review of data on the social and economic status of elderly Black adults. Please refer to the volumes by Harel, McKinney and Williams (1990), Jackson (1988), and Jackson, Chatters and Taylor (1993) for more exhaustive investigations of research on elderly Black Americans. Population Trends