Increasingly we understand that no ethnic community is monolithic but shows a great degree of diversity in demographics, class and socio-economic status. This volume demonstrates this in its focus on the black ageing community, showing how these diversities have enormous implications for social services, social programmes and social policy. In these twelve informative, incisive essays, the state of America's black aged is assessed and policies and programmes analyzed. The authors point to the importance of gearing services to a diverse group of elderly people. They also highlight how traditional racism and economic limitations impact on service needs and uses. Finally, they note the importance of family, church and other informal support networks in the black community as a substitute for or supplement to more formally-delivered services. Written by some of the best known scholars and professionals in the field of gerontology, the essays in this book will be required reading for all those delivering services to minority aged clients.