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/

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

The Midlife Chrysalis

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