The History of National Caucus on the Black Aged

NCBA began as an ad hoc organization in 1970 led by the late Hobart C. Jackson of Philadelphia, a nursing home professional, and well respected champion of the African American elderly. Mr. Jackson and a group of concerned citizens organized The National Caucus on Black Aged to assure that the upcoming 1971 White House Conference on Aging would address the particular needs of African American elderly.

The National Caucus on the Black Aged was established in October 1972. The Caucus existed as an advocacy group until 1973 when it received a grant from the Administration on Aging (AoA) to conduct research, train personnel and serve as a technical resource. The National Center on Black Aged was established to administer the AoA grant.

The Caucus held the "National Conference on the Black Elderly" in November 1971, one month before the White House Conference on Aging. Over 800 representatives from 19 states and the District of Columbia participated at the conference. This event was the first of twenty-five national conferences sponsored by NCBA. Its May 1973 conference in Washington, D.C., entitled "Action for Aged Blacks: When?" drew national participation and established its enduring identity as an effective advocacy organization.