Dear
Friend,
When most
people think of a funeral what immediately comes to mind are somber images of individuals
mourning the loss of a loved one while wearing all black. However for many cultural
and ethnic groups a funeral is a time of celebration and joy. In African American
Christian funerals
it is not uncommon to see people singing, clapping, and shouting; celebrating
that a loved one is no longer suffering and has now “gone home” to be with their
Heavenly Father. Funerals in this tradition
emphasize the family reconnecting in celebration and for the outpouring of
emotions.
The funeral
or rather “homegoings” are very important in the African American tradition. According
to Reverend Dr. Taylor T. Thompson
of St. John AME Church in Cleveland, “homegoing is the theology of returning
back to heaven, our time on Earth being only temporary.” Furthermore, though a
person is no longer with us physically, they are still with us spiritually. This
connection after death is also prominent in the words used to announce the
death. For example it is uncommon to hear that someone has “died,” instead, they
have “passed on” or have “transitioned.”
A typical “homegoing”
insists that family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances are expected to
come to attend the services. This necessity to wait while aunts come in from a
state away, or for the college roommate to drive in often stalls the funeral
until all can be present. Once at the homegoing, people plan on staying for a
long time, so much so that it is very common for there to be a day long program
handed out with scriptures and hymns picked out by the family. Homegoings also tend to require female ushers ready
to fan or aid someone who has become overcome with emotions. 
There are many factors that affect a change in homegoing services. Services will be different due to economic class level, educational level, and region. Probably the most obvious difference in region can be seen in the jazz funerals of New Orleans. Even though some homegoing services are changing and evolving, the fundamental principle of friends and family gathering to celebrate the life of a loved one stays the same.
Our thanks to Rev. Dr. Thompson for his help with this article. How are these burial practices different than your experiences with funerals? Share your ideas below.
Comments