NCBA, Black Aged and Politics

• Author: Jacquelyne Johnson Jackson
• DOI: 10.1177/000271627441500111
• Published date: 01 September 1974
• Date: 01 September 1974
• Subject Matter: Articles

NCBA, Black Aged and Politics
By JACQUELYNE JOHNSON JACKSON
ABSTRACT: Taking the position that those who are both
black and old are different from the aged or the minority
aged, this paper is primarily concerned with providing
background information on the National Caucus on the
Black Aged, Inc. (NCBA) and selected demographic data on
black and other aged to justify that position and hence,
NCBA’s existence. Black aged—who often experience mul-
tiple jeopardy from racism, ageism and poverty and, in the
case of females, sexism—are beset with certain crucial
problems differentiating them from other aged. Because
NCBA is opposed to "artificial dissection of blacks," it is
justifiably committed to the position that those problems can
and must be resolved through effective political action
involving NCBA and aging and aged blacks.
Jacquelyne Johnson Jackson is Associate Professor of Medical Sociology and
member of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development at Duke
University. Dr. Jackson, who received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in
1960, is a founding member and currently Vice-Chairman of the National Caucus
on Black Aged, Inc. and Technical and Training Director of the National Center
on Black Aged. Having published a number of works about, and lectured widely
on, both black aged and black females, she is committed to the need for more
knowledge and understanding of homogeneous subsets within the black popula-
tion.
138

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OVER
the years many old blacks
specific race-age population subset
‘J now dead, as well as many
deserving attention and political
yet alive, have been among the
action have raised anew several
avant-garde of civil-rights and so- highly charged political issues, one
cial activitists. Many others have being the necessity for, and wis-
been faithful followers. Yet, almost dom of, concentrating upon old
none of that activism has been
blacks.
aimed specifically or exclusively
Since NCBA obviously believes
toward old blacks. This is not sur-
in both the necessity and wisdom
prising for a number of reasons. For
of such action, this presentation is
example, old blacks have been ex-
primarily concerned with selected
tremely sparse, both numerically background data about NCBA and
and proportionally, within the aged blacks which, in NCBA’s
black population. Much activism view, justify that concentration. Al-
has been directed toward more
though these data can be inter-
global consequences of racial dis-
preted in varying ways by others, it
crimination affecting blacks of vary- should be clear from the outset that
ing ages, as in the case of voting for NCBA aged blacks-who often
disfranchisement. Racial discrimi-
experience multiple jeopardy from
nation itself has been, and remains,
racism, ageism, poverty and, in the
more vicious than age discrimina-
case of females, sexism as well-
tion in its visibility, strength and
are beset with certain crucial prob-
devastating and debilitating effects.
lems which distinguish them, even
Finally, those most often respon-
if only in degree, from all white
sible for molding black political
and nonblack minority aged, and
activity have themselves been rela-
that such problems can be resolved
tively unconcerned about particular
through effective and concentrated
adverse social conditions heaped
political action on behalf of and
upon those who were or are old and
by aged blacks. Furthermore, NCBA
black.
believes that the resolution of such
Although various recent mod-
problems for aged blacks will neces-
ifications in the types of phenom-
sarily benefit all other aged.
ena
indicated above all point toward
emergent trends requiring greater
NCBA BACKGROUND
political activity for and by old
blacks precisely because they are NCBA and WHCOA
old and black, relatively little con-
NCBA-initially formed as an ad
certed action in that direction
hoc group of various black and
has occurred. The most notable
white professionals extremely con-
action has been that of the National
cerned about aged blacks and/or
Caucus on the Black Aged, Inc.
inappropriate intrusions of partisan
(NCBA), an organization deliber-
politics into, and the rigid overstruc-
ately established in 1970-one
turing of, the then forthcoming
year prior to the 1971 White House
WHCOA, as well as the planned
Conference on Aging (WHCOA)-
underrepresentation of blacks
to help improve qualities and
within WHCOA-was, in the
quantities of life for aged blacks.
words of its first and continuing
NCBA’s establishment and con-
highly effective chairman, Hobart
tinued focus upon aged blacks as a
C. Jackson, bom:

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140
... out of concern, concern that the
(2) officially setting forth, within
[WHCOA] would dilute the critical and
a WHCOA special session report,
special needs of the black and other
needed recommendations for action
minority aged, thereby weakening the
to be taken over the next decade for
effects of the total attack on the prob-
old blacks.4
4
Without NCBA,
lems of the elderly of the nation. By
WHCOA would have had
highlighting this black
no con-
segment, we
reinforce and highlight the plight of cern about aged blacks qua aged
all
The Caucus must
blacks.
...
forge its
NCBA and the
purpose into policy and its policy into
vast majority of
action.
1
WHCOA
black delegates were very
concerned about three major and
During its first year of operation,
NCBA set forth to translate
4.
purpose
Report of the Special Concerns Ses-
sion on Aging and Aged Blacks, 1971 White
into policy, and policy into action.
House Conference on Aging (Washington,
Until Arthur S. Flemming-a
D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1972).
former secretary of the Department
Perhaps the two most controversial recom-
of Health, Education and Welfare
mendations were those pertaining to (1) the
under the Eisenhower administra-
setting aside of 11 percent—11 percent then
being the approximate percentage of blacks
tion-became permanent chairman
within the total population of the United
of WHCOA in midstream, NCBA
States—of all federal funds for research,
met with considerable and open op-
training and services in aging for blacks over
position. Most of the WHCOA staff
the next decade; (2) the reduction of the
minimum
appeared
age eligibility requirement for
to be toiling diligently
black males who qualified as primary ben-
both to prevent any focus what-
eficiaries of Old-Age, Survivors’, Depen-
soever upon aged blacks qua aged
dents and Health Insurance (OASDHI)
blacks and to minimize black
under Social
par-
Security, so as to reduce exist-
ticipation-especially that of quali-
ing racial inequities resulting from dispro-
portionate life expectancies between black
fied blacks. Flemming’s more equit-
and white males—inasmuch as the former
able position,2 coupled with certain
tended to become older at an earlier
NCBA pressure events,3 enabled
chronological age and to die earlier, on the
NCBA to succeed in its then prin-
average, than did the latter. For additional
information about this Social
cipal objectives: (1)
Security pro-
increasing
posal, see, especially, Jacquelyne J. Jackson,
black participation within WHCOA;
"Aged Negroes: Their Culture Departures
from Statistical Stereotypes and Rural-Urban
1. Hobart C. Jackson, "The White House
Differences," Gerontologist 10 (1970), pp.
Conference on Aging and Black Aged," in
140-145, reprinted in Research Planning
Proceedings of Research Conference on
and Action for the Elderly, ed. Donald P.
Minority Group Aged in the South, ed.
Kent, Robert Kastenbaum and Sylvia Sher-
Jacquelyne J. Jackson (Durham, N.C.: Duke
wood (New York: Behavioral Publications,
University Center for the Study on Aging,
1972) pp. 501-513; and Jacquelyne J.
1972), p. 22.
Jackson, "Aged Blacks: A Potpourri towards
2. Dr. Arthur S. Flemming—currently the
the Reduction of Racial Inequities," Phylon
U.S. Commissioner on Aging and Chairman of
32 (1971), pp. 260-280. Also, for additional
the Civil Rights Commission—was, and has
information on NCBA ideologies and de-
remained, supportive of NCBA’s efforts. His
velopments prior to 1972, see, especially, C.
support has represented both political and
Coiro, "Why the National Caucus on the
moral acumen.
Black Aged?" Harvest Years, 11 (1971), pp.
3. NCBA’s pressure events included hold-
13-18; Hobart C. Jackson, "National Caucus
ing a Black House Conference on Aging
on the Black Aged: A Progress Report"
several weeks prior to WHCOA and a picket
Aging and Human Development 2 (1971),
by some of its members of the White House
pp. 226-231; and Hobart C. Jackson, "Na-
immediately prior to WHCOA, as well as
tional Goals and Priorities in the Social
other efforts intended to establish political
Welfare of Aging," Gerontologist 2 (1971),
clout.
pp. 226-231.

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related issues. One was the in-
within the preliminary report of
sufficient attention given to minor- proceedings which delegates re-
ity groups, including blacks, in
ceived at WHCOA’s closing, as
WHCOA’s formation of issues and
well as the general paucity of fed-
policy recommendations, as well as erally collected data about aged
specific omission of references to black.
6
Such political problems,
blacks by major WHCOA speakers. however, generally plague black
The second was WHCOA black
groups attempting to work within
underrepresentation, even in com- the established political system.
parison with other minorities; sig-
Also perturbing were certain un-
nificantly, Native Americans and desirable episodes. For example, a
...