Older black men and women have historically been portrayed as the mainstay of kin networks, a monolithic institution in extended families over time. A number of changes, however, have occurred in recent years that suggest that the traditional perceptions of the family roles of the black elderly need reassessment. One concerns historical shifts in social definitions of elders' family roles. Another is demographic transition - specifically changes in patterns of mortality, fertility, and single parenthood. These factors have produced a variety of intergenerational family structures, norms, and role behaviors among aged black Americans.