janmcn, The following are required to apply for Medicare benefits for identification purposes:

• your original birth certificate or other proof of birth [more info] (You may also submit a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency).;
• your original citizenship or naturalization papers [more info];
• a copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968; [more info]; and
• a copy of your W-2 form(s) [more info] and/or self-employment tax return [more info] for last year.

With these you should be able to get a photo id. Are you telling me that these 'elderly African American people' have not received Social Security benefits? I will agree with you if you can introduce me to just five of these people. Otherwise, your argument does not hold water. This may seem stubborn, but I'm from Missouri and you have to show me.