African-American families are close through many generations and branches of the family tree, often more so than other ethnic and social groups and the proverbs these families share seems to be the twine that binds them together and makes them strong. In an American society that tends to ignore the influence of elders as they age, it is refreshing to see the important role African-American grandparents play in their family and the transmission of culture, history, and socialization skills. The text notes that grandparents are "the essence of family bonds," and in our country, for a majority of society, that is not always the case. In our mobile society, families draw farther and farther apart, and often, these rich relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren do not take shape. Many ethnic cultures maintain these bonds, creating a tight-knit fabric of family that is much more prone to passing on information, culture, and socializing their children. It seems that the groups in society who neglect these family ties are missing something essential for their continued culture and heritage, and these elements of life will continue to degenerate for generations to come. It seems too many children are missing out on the "wizard," "mentor," and "role model" groups of grandparents and one must wonder what this says about the future of American culture and heritage. Perhaps society needs to become more in touch with the past, in order to plan more wisely and appreciate the future.

It is quite clear this study included logical and well thought out elements of study and research. Tables indicate the depth of research, down to specific motivational proverbs, their use, and who utilized them (grandfather, grandmother, parents), and their overall effect on the generations. Many of these proverbs are age-old pearls of wisdom, culled from sources such as the Bible and even the American...

Seeing these proverbs indicates the strength and depth of African-American culture, and their reaction to their unique and very colorful history here in the United States. It is no wonder the African-American family is such a rich crazy quilt of experiences and beliefs. These proverbs run the gamut from common sense to those that supplement racial identity and personal self-worth and assuredness. They indicate the varied African-American experience, and the early experience of subjugation and violence that African-Americans struggled so long to overcome. They also indicate those elements of life that are most important to African-American families, and spirituality follows closely behind family connectedness in these families. Again, it is refreshing and encouraging to see the importance of tight-knit families in the preservation of these proverbs, and many other Americans could take guidance from these proverbs and their intention to maintain close and nurturing familial relationships across generations and diverse branches of the family tree.
In conclusion, grandparents are essential in the passing of cultural and socialization skills and education, and this is especially true in African-American households. Ultimately, this study proves that grandparents can have an extremely positive influence on their grandchildren, especially in the area of family values. The use of proverbs to achieve these goals is a long-standing African-American tradition, and many other Americans would do well to put this practice into use with their own children and grandchildren.