Closeness To Ghosthood

In Africa, older adults or elders were held in high esteem and this reverence for the aged was brought to the African diaspora doing slavery (Pollard, 1981). The elders were third to God and next to the ancestors, according to Pollard (1981). The author states that their closeness to “ghosthood” (p. 228), which means they are closest to the ancestors, they have favor in God’s eyes (Pollard, 1981). Due to this honored position, African American older adults or elders were granted the right to chastise the young if they were disrespectful and reward them if their behavior was considerate, according to Pollard (1981). In addition to this position, African elders’ roles were as advisors and storytellers (Pollard, 1981), as well as the bridge