What few talk about is that all those young men in jail are eventually going to be old prisoners. Wibecan recalled conducting interviews several years ago on a ward for older prisoners at Huntsville Prison, Huntsville, Texas. There was a huge dormitory with all these little cubicles with walls around them that were maybe four feet high. The prisoners had no privacy whatsoever. Many older prisoners were disabled or wheelchair-bound.
Poor schools lead to poverty in old age.
Another key but seldom-reported issue is aids, the fourth leading cause of death for African Americans though the disease ranks eighth among mortality causes for the total U.S. population, Wibecan said. Wibecan continued, remarking that high rates of poverty and ill health put African American elders in double jeopardy. Blacks and other people of color are more likely to retire early because of poor health. According to Wibecan, African Americans receive about a third less retirement income than whites. Contrary to popular belief, black elders receive little economic support from friends and relatives, who are also financially strapped.