It's Not All Downhill From Here

Loretha Curry, the main character of It’s Not All Downhill From Here, spends much of the novel internally conflicted about her health and how her age impacts it. Her perspective is shaped by 21st-century perceptions of older adults in the United States. Many of these common perceptions about old age develop from stereotypes and biases, often perpetuated by popular media: Sitcoms and reality TV, in particular, craft caricatures of older individuals’ frailty and incompetence. From an early age, Western audiences are bombarded with images of older adults who cannot see, hear, or think well. These images follow the audiences into young adulthood; they inform day-to-day interactions with real-world older people. However, there is a distinct contrast between how the younger and older populations perceive aging. Elderly individuals tend to believe they can remain independent—a core tenant of United States culture—partially because of the marketing campaigns selling youth and claiming staying young is easy and essential.

Loretha Curry is in her late sixties and does not feel old. However, she grapples with societal stereotypes about age and must regularly check in with herself to understand how she thinks about her age. As friends and loved ones die, and Loretha experiences the hardships of staying “young,” McMillan explores what it means to age in the United States, particularly for Black women.