THRIVING OLDER AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN - AGING AFTER JIM-CROW

This paper is based on the findings of small group discussions with se lf-defined successful African American women age 60+ in Charlotte, Nor th Carolina. These women, who lived through the Jim Crow era and thriv ed in spite of the obstacles, continue to seek meaning in their lives through the roles they play in their families, churches, and communiti es. They feel strongly that there is a core of key values that continu e to hold meaning and struggle to impart these values to those whose l ives they touch. The key values identified include education, religion , work, and giving back to the community, and illustrate the integrati on of both traditional and nontraditional definitions of success. Ment oring is proposed as an important concept for understanding the lives of African American women in later life.