ABSTRACT
This chapter examines social service use among two different elderly cultural groups of Blacks living in New York City—those born in mainland USA and those born in the West Indies who are living in New York City. US mainland-born Blacks, also known as African Americans, are the largest ethnic group of color in the United States. Three distinct forms of family structure among US mainland-born Blacks have been noted. Two of these structures are patriarchal and the third is matriarchal. West Indian families like Black American families, evolved in the same way and endured similar atrocities. The other aspect of Black African family legacy that must be recognized is the central role of religion and spiritual beliefs among many Black families, US mainland-born and West Indian-born alike. Class-color differences previously noted among West Indians are also very evident in their religion as noted in a study of religion in Jamaican society.
