Aging While Black: Paying the Price of a Broken System | Ray Jetson

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 realitiesHow the village concept and Sankofa help bridge past, present, and futureWhy technology and mutual mentorship matter for aging wellWhat collective longevity looks like across generationsThis 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 black05:43 The village concept and African origins08:18 Ubuntu and community identity11:11 The Black church as a village13:07 Embracing innovation and technology18:39 Sankofa and learning from the past24:38 Intergenerational circles and family wisdom27:35 Collective longevity across generations33:08 Keeping hopeful and building systems39:50 Sources of inspiration and leadership43:20 What makes aging while black different51:03 Wisdom bumper sticker53:27 Closing thoughts and workshop invitation Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/