For well over a century, one aspect of the “American Dream” has been the idea of working until one’s mid-60s and then retiring to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of labor. Retirement meant to travel, plenty of leisure time, and enjoying one’s grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
Yet, for Blacks in America, that has never really been their story. Instead, the imperative to survive in this country has pushed families to structure themselves into close-knit, intergenerational support collectives. That meant friends, neighbors, and church and community members jointly working together to ensure the safety and livelihoods of Blacks. That has evolved today into the phenomena of grandparents parenting for a second go-’round: their grandchildren. We’re calling it “grandparenting 2.0.”
In 2018, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) produced a research study on African American grandparents (2018 Grandparents Today National Survey). They found that:
· The average age of the first-time African American/Black (AA/B) grandparent is 46 years old, which is significantly younger than the general population (50 years old), while the average number of grandchildren is 5.5, higher than the general population (4.5).
· They are more likely to be in hands-on roles in the upbringing of grandchildren (e.g., discipline, mentoring, and financial support) and significantly more likely to be a primary caregiver than the general population (31% vs. 5%).
· AA/B grandparents are less likely to be in a high-income household ($75,000+) than the general population (29% vs. 44%).
· They are more likely to feel the financial burden of being a grandparent: One in five states that their financial status is a barrier to seeing more of their grandchildren.
The report also stated that African American/Black grandparents are a source of heritage and wisdom, while virtually all have strong connections to cultural roots (97%). So, the impact of a multigenerational approach to parenting serves to add historical/cultural depth and cohesion to Black families and, by extension, Black communities.
In a North Dakota State University (NDSU) 2021 publication titled “When Grandparents become Parents to their Grandchildren,” they report that “2.5 million grandparents carried the primary responsibility of caring for their grandchildren and meeting their basic needs.” So, why has this trend of grandparents taking on the role of primary caretaker/guardian to a person 18 years old and younger become so prevalent?
The same NDSU publication lists several reasons:
· The parent(s) has an addiction or difficulties with alcohol or drugs
· The parent(s) has mental health challenges or emotional problems
· Child neglect, abandonment, or abuse
· Parent is in jail
· Youth or inexperience of parents (teen pregnancy, etc.)
· Physical health issues or death of a parent
· Unstable home life, homelessness
· Lack of financial resources, lack of general ability
Domestic violence in the home, divorce, other family challenges
Military deployment
These points are something we’re all aware of and we can look at the historical antecedents that have significantly affected Black communities that bear out these reasons. Yet, despite them, as well as Black experiences over 400 + years, there is an upside to grandparents stepping in to parent again. Some say that grandparents are the soul and survival of Black families.
Referring back to the AARP research report, they state that Black grandparents provide a sense of roots within the family (57%) and are considered a:
Source of wisdom: 63% Valued elder: 49%
Mentor: 49% Friend: 46%
Teacher: 45% Babysitter: 37%
Discipliner: 35% Conveyer of family legacy: 34%
Storyteller: 33% Financial support: 28%
Very importantly, it appears that Black grandparents are more willing to discuss life issues, the ones that are uncomfortable, with grandchildren and that 72% of grandparents want more information in order to more appropriately communicate with and support their grandchildren. And, conversely, grandparents experience far less loneliness and isolation by being involved with their grandchildren’s lives. Here are some uplifting figures:
· 89% say their relationship with their grandchildren is good for their mental well-being
· 75% say their grandchildren make them more sociable
· 74% say their grandchildren make them have a more active lifestyle
· 50% say their relationship with their grandchildren is good for alleviating health conditions.
Those figures highlight an important point: parenting grandchildren has a positive two-way effect on Black families. This lends itself to another trend concerning grandparenting 2.0, which is a housing initiative created for seniors raising children. One such project is called Griot Village, located in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland. It’s one of only seven in the country and the only one of its kind in Ohio.
· Griot Village is the winner of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) 2014 Agency Awards of Merit.
· The project won the 2014 Developments of Distinction Award: LIHTC Development that Best Exemplifies Major Community Impact.
· In 2014, the Northeast Ohio Apartment Association (NOAA) recognized Griot Village with the highest award distinction: Platinum.
· In April 2015, a production team and Secretary Julián Castro from the US Department of Health and Human Services visited Griot Village to tape a video to be shown at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.
The term “griot” means “storyteller,” a perfect analogy of the process of integrating Black roots and culture with today’s chaos, disparities, and racial tensions. Sharing stories, both recent and from over the centuries, handed down from generation to generation not only adds color, they add vibrancy to one’s individual and collective experiences in an interwoven tapestry of creativity, connectivity, inspiration, and meaning.
So, let’s celebrate grandparents for their role in our lives, their strength, their determination, and their willingness to continue as parents — again. We know they’re positively influencing younger generations and continuing the tradition of passing their wisdom, culture, and history, as well as strengthening our communities! ●
