Longtime Baton Rouge minister, civic leader, and 2022 AARP Purpose Prize recipient, Raymond A. Jetson examines how racial inequities accumulate through a lifetime—then flips the narrative. Jetson’s book Aging While Black: A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in Americareframes the stories of Black elders as sources of innovation, intergenerational wisdom, and community power. It offers a bold roadmap to honor, uplift, and center older Black voices in shaping the future.
Drawing from decades of civic, spiritual, and grassroots leadership, Jetson offers a powerful reflection on the challenges and triumphs of Black elders. Framed as an invitation rather than a traditional guide, the book uplifts generational wisdom and calls for a reimagining of aging rooted in dignity, innovation, and collective care.
In a recent conversation with the Jozef Syndicate, Rev. Jetson shared how his deep roots in Baton Rouge shaped the vision for Aging While Black—and why now is the time to center the voices of Black elders in the national dialogue.
How has living and serving in multiple civic, spiritual, and community leadership roles in Baton Rouge shaped the insights you share in Aging While Black: A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America?
Being a part of this community in so many varied roles offered me a front-row seat to both the challenges and strengths found throughout Black communities. The fortitude, wisdom, and resourcefulness I’ve witnessed among elders have profoundly impacted me. These roles exposed not just systemic inequities, but also the powerful communities of care, innovation, and hope being employed every day. My experiences led me to craft a narrative that honors the full humanity and contributions of Black elders, rooted in the living traditions and collective spirit found across Baton Rouge, and this country.
Why Now? What drew you at this moment to elevate Black elders, moving past survival to shining a light on their generational power?
We stand at a crossroads where demographic shifts and urgent national conversations about racial justice intersect. I felt compelled to move beyond stories of mere survival; instead, it was important to me to celebrate and harness the extraordinary generational wisdom and power that Black elders embody. Their voices are too often overlooked, yet they hold keys to cultural memory, community wellbeing, and innovation. Now, more than ever, the wisdom and experience of Black elders should shape our collective path forward.
What proved most challenging in writing this guide? Was there an insight during the process that surprised you?
Writing Aging While Black was both a personal and interdependent journey. The greatest challenge was distilling the vast, complex realities of Black aging into an accessible platform that honors both struggle and triumph. I consider the book less a traditional “guidebook” and more an invitation. Readers are challenged to recalibrate our villages, embrace change, and reconnect with ancestral wisdom. What surprised me most was just how widespread and deeply entrenched the systemic barriers impacting Black life truly are. Even with my years of lived experience in multiple roles, I was struck by the vastness and complexity of these obstacles. The challenges literally span generations, institutions, and every stage of life. This realization deepened the sense of urgency and responsibility.
Who do you hope will read your book—and what kind of impact or reaction are you aiming to spark?
First and foremost, I hope Black elders see themselves reflected with dignity and possibility. I also hope the book sparks pride and renewed engagement. I also hope families, advocates, policymakers, and younger generations discover a blueprint for collaboration and transformation. My goal is to spark conversation, policy change, and tangible action. This book is about shifting the narrative around aging while Black from marginalization toward power, innovation, and joy.
What’s the next phase in your journey with this book?
The book is intended to amplify the conversation around Black aging and elevate the Aging While Black movement. The next phase is moving around this country in person and virtually to beat the drums with this message. But this is all in service to shaping a national network of partners committed to reimagining and transforming the aging experience for Black people in America…