Category Archives: Academic
Academia: Recap of the Last Days
This was written as part of a death and dying course at Western Michigan University. Original Submission Date: April 10, 2020 Overview Luck played a significant part in physically surviving the Holocaust. Some lived because they were deemed healthier than … Continue reading
My Interest in Afterlife Beliefs
This was written as part of my coursework at Marian University, where we were assigned to write about our interest in the afterlife. Original Submission Date: March 10. 2023 One moment the rise and fall of Luke’s chest signified he … Continue reading
Academia: Letter to Myself
This was an assignment for a class in death and dying. Original Submission date: September 4, 2019 Dearest Raine, As stereotypical as it might sound, I’m staring death in the face but choosing to turn around and look back over … Continue reading
Grief at Work
Link: Grief at Work Literature Review Link: Grief at Work Presentation Work is a place dedicated to stated goals and objectives, commerce, and duties, but workplaces are also human places and are not immune from death, grief, and mourning. Grief … Continue reading
Evaluating Black Cemeteries
Link: Evaluation of Black Cemeteries As part of my coursework at Marian University, I took a fascinating course in African American Deathways and part of this work was to study and evaluate black cemeteries by answering questions posed by our … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Cemetery, Memorials
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Academic: Black Female Mortality and Reduced Abortion Access
Link: Black Female Mortality and Reduced Abortion Access Black women, regardless of education or wealth, have always been more likely than White women to die due to pregnancy related complications. Abortion restrictions, which have also decreased the availability of maternal … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Death, General
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Balanced and Sane
Note: This was written as part of my coursework in Thanantology at Marian University. African American Homegoing celebrations are a time of tears and laughter. As Isiah Owens, a NYC Funeral Home Director, said, “Death and funerals have kept African … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Death Professions, Funeral Director
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Academic: Black Funeral Directors and Civil Rights
Link: Black Funeral Directors and Civil Rights Despite being legally freed by the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1963, African Americans were still in economic and social bondage after the Civil War. In the years immediately following the Civil War, … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Death Professions, Funeral, Funeral Director
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Academic: Africa and Death
This post was written as part of a course in African American Deathways at Marian University. The Africa of my childhood was a fierce and exotic land where elephants and lions roamed free and where barely clad warriors fought with … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Death, Funeral, Memorials
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Academic: Africanisms in Homegoing Ceremonies
Note: This was written for a class in African American Deathways for a course at Marian University. The sounds of gospel music, church hymns, and spirituals rise to the rafters during African American Homegoing service as neighbors, friends, and relatives … Continue reading
Posted in Academic, African American, Afterlife, Death, Memorials
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