Aging in America is not a race-neutral experience. Firmly entrenched disadvantages compound over a lifetime, making Black aging a unique and urgent issue. Yet, Black elders don't just survive-they build. Their fortitude has shaped families, communities, and movements for generations.
Drawing on lived experiences, cultural knowledge, and groundbreaking insights, Raymond A. Jetson illuminates the power of Black elders. He dismantles toxic narratives about Black aging and offers a transformative vision-one rooted in the strength of community, digital empowerment, and intergenerational connection. As the founder of Aging While Black and an AARP Purpose Prize winner, he confronts the realities of ageism and racial inequalities while charting a new path-one that embraces innovation, connection, and the radical possibilities of a future where Black elders are valued, empowered, and celebrated.
Aging While Black is an action guide for change, inviting readers to disrupt the established order, build powerful connections, and boldly imagine a future where Black elders reach full potential and their guidance shapes a more inclusive and just society for generations to come.
For readers who appreciate perspective-shaping works like The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson or The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Aging While Black offers a fresh perspective on one of today's most critical issues.
Raymond A. Jetson is joining us on the Busboys stage to share more about “building a future where Black elders are not just surviving, but leading and thriving”. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Jetson will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of AGING WHILE BLACK will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Raymond A. Jetson is the founder of Aging While Black, a national movement reimagining aging at the intersection of race and justice. An AARP Purpose Prize winner, Jetson brings decades of leadership in public policy, civic innovation, and community transformation. He also founded MetroMorphosis, a nonprofit committed to transforming urban communities from the inside out. A former Louisiana state legislator and longtime pastor, his work is rooted in amplifying the voices and value of Black elders.
BOOK DETAILS:
Aging While Black
A Radical Reimagining of Aging and Race in America
By Raymond A. Jetson
June 6, 2025 | Paperback, 264 pages, $22.95
