Aging in America has never been the same for everyone. Chip Conley sits down with Ray Jetson, pastor, former Louisiana legislator, and author of Aging While Black, to explore why aging isn’t a race-neutral experience and what it really means to age well in a system that was never built for everyone.Ray shares a simple, powerful way to rethink aging through community, innovation, and shared wisdom across generations.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why aging while Black carries unique structural and economic realities
- How the village concept and Sankofa help bridge past, present, and future
- Why technology and mutual mentorship matter for aging well
- What collective longevity looks like across generations
This conversation invites us to rethink aging, equity, and how we care for one another at every stage of life.
Watch now and join the conversation.
Timestamps:
03:02 Three pillars of aging while black
05:43 The village concept and African origins
08:18 Ubuntu and community identity
11:11 The Black church as a village
13:07 Embracing innovation and technology
18:39 Sankofa and learning from the past
24:38 Intergenerational circles and family wisdom
27:35 Collective longevity across generations
33:08 Keeping hopeful and building systems
39:50 Sources of inspiration and leadership
43:20 What makes aging while black different
51:03 Wisdom bumper sticker
53:27 Closing thoughts and workshop invitation
Learn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/
