The Role Of Wisdom In African American Culture

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Wisdom is having knowledge learned from experience over time. Wisdom comes with old age. It is practical and involves a variety of insights. The old are referred to as “the wise’. Most people become grandparents when the reach around forty to fifty years old. Grandparents full a societal role in which their insights of knowledge are passed on and their family history may be passed on to their grandchildren. They pass on skill such as religious, social, and vocational values through storytelling and advice; they can often feel a sense of pride and satisfaction from working with their grandchildren on joint projects (Cavanaugh and Fields, page 439). Becoming a grandparent is meaningful, and there are a variety of dimensions of meaning that…show more content…
In African American tradition the elderly women continue the tradition to pass on cultural meaning, such as the value of children and self-reliance, to succeeding generations (Peterson, page 213). The “wise” women continue to enlighten people about the importance of human relationships. In the social sense grandparents try to build a relationship though the care of children. Between 1979 and 1980 the African American population in the Pacific Northwest continued short periods of fieldwork. In that time family matters were defined culturally as “women’s area of concern” (Peterson, page 214). The “wise” women shared their beliefs and knowledge to others about the importance of family. The role of a grandmother is highly respected, and they are a source of love, strength, and stability (Peterson, page 216). Religion emphasizes as an outlet for the oppressed (Peterson, page 216). They give insight to the young on their own values. Mostly, marital status makes a minimal difference to elderly black women in terms of role relationships. The entry into grandmother hood creates conflict in this role within the family (‘Peterson, page 216). According to a study it stated Blacks score higher on religious participation but score lower than White Americans on life…show more content…
People especially need to be their in a time of need, such as illness. The church offers them a place to gain power and to exercise their leadership skills. Age brings status, respect, and prestige to women who have raised a child (Peterson, page 223). The passing of generations is socially meaningful. Baltes and colleagues defined wisdom in terms of fundamental pragmatic of life. Which includes knowledge and judgement about human condition; and ways to plan, manage and understand a good life. The way in which women in the church reach the “age of wisdom” is similar to Erickson’s stage of generativity versus stagnation. In this stage generativity is primarily the concern in establishing and guiding the next generation. In the article the “wise” women guide and give insight to the young on the traditions and pass on the cultural meanings. Generativity emerges the strength of care, and according to the article it is vastly important to be their in someone’s time of need. The basic strength of this stage is care and is generated by love, in which was mentioned in the article; the role of wise women reflect the African tradition be being the source of love. It is different due the fact that in the stagnation aspect boredom ensues the pathological symptoms. In the stage of integrity versus despair it is similar to the article because it says in

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