The Black Aged in the United States

Since the publication of the first edition of The Black Aged in the United States in 1980, a large number of studies, articles, pamphlets, and books on the subject have been produced, necessitating the present volume. In addition to a substantial increase in the number of citations, the bibliography deals with new issues of immediate relevance, such as the effects of prison life, AIDS, the gay lifestyle, adoption, sickle cell anemia, and abuse of the aged. Attention also has been given to autobiographical sources, which provide keen insights into how the aged Blacks felt about their pains, dreams, disappointments, hopes, sufferings, and their experience with racism in this country. This expansive reference work has been carefully compiled to accommodate a variety of research methods, and it offers extensive coverage of related topics. The compiler's introduction provides an historical overview of the role of the Black aged in transmitting Black culture to younger generations and points out the significance of that contribution in the Black heritage. Most entries have precise and informative annotations; of special interest is an appendix on Black Retirement Homes, 1860-1988. The only complete sourcebook available on a timely and provocative subject, this exhaustive study will be useful in Black studies, sociology, women's studies, gerontology, and geriatrics.