I argue that contrary to claims that grandparenthood is a roleless (Burgess 1960), ambiguous (Hagestad 1985), or tenuous (Rosow 1967; 1976) role, Black women’s normative and personal normative expectations about grandmotherhood are characterized by what I refer to as ‘anticipatory responsibility,’ grandmothers’ expectation of duty to or accountability for their grandchildren’s wellbeing. Black women’s socialization into the grandmother role across the life course and the societal context of Black family life contribute to anticipatory responsibility. I shed light on how anticipatory responsibility intersects with grandmothers lived experiences. I discuss variation in grandmothers’ degrees of involvement with their grandchildren, as well as among women who serve as parental surrogates; specifically, I explain what accounts for parental surrogates becoming keepers, takers, or system negotiators.

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