| Popis: |
Ferguson, Missouri, USA became the center of the nation’s attention in August 2014, when an unarmed African American teenager was killed by a Caucasian police officer. Civic unrest continued for weeks. Images and voices in the news were largely of youth; the involvement of older adults was not evident. The aim of Elder Voices on Ferguson was to hear how older adults experienced the social unrest and how they thought about improving their community. Ten focus groups were conducted with 73 participants. Focus group recordings were transcribed; and three coders completed a thematic analysis and member checking. Participants averaged 75 years of age, 73% were female, and 59% were African American with the remainder White. Eight themes were identified. Issues related to safety were most commonly discussed. Some focus group members participated in the protests but left before nightfall because they felt vulnerable. Concerns about going out after dark remain strong. Some felt intimidated to attend community meetings because of the angry nature of the discussion. There was recognition of on-going racism and long-standing problems in the community. Participants expressed concern and understanding toward the challenging situations faced by today’s youth, including lack of opportunity in education and employment and lack of strong parental and community support. Participants reported a breakdown in intergenerational communications and expressed a desire for more exchange. Findings are being discussed with relevant organizations and public officials to increase the involvement of older adults in on-going community development efforts and to provide opportunities for intergenerational dialogue. |
