The Death Care Industry African American Cemeteries and Funeral Homes

The Death Care Industry African American Cemeteries and Funeral Homes This is a book about the living. Through the use of diverse sources, including oral history, historical text, news articles, and archaeological insights, the authors weave together the lives of communities of ancestors and communities of living descendants - lives of hardship, despair, courage, triumph, discrimination, disregard, respect, reverence, neglect, revitalization, war, love, tranquility and political struggle. The story of cemeteries is not unlike that of the people who create them. Indeed the authors tell us that struggle and conflict often surround African American efforts to preserve their cemeteries. The book tells of the great variety of African American cemeteries in all parts of the continent. The descriptive documentation of the whereabouts of African American cemeteries is important enough, and that is only the framework of this compelling book. The authors explain how these cemeteries were founded, along with the symbolism entailed in burial practices and monuments. This second edition includes a look at fourteen family owned funeral homes, nationwide, most established in the 1800s. Also, there is considerably more information on cremations, on mausoleums, and on how to make the best decisions regarding preparations for your departing loved ones. African Canadian cemeteries have their own chapter in this edition as does New Orleans, Louisiana, with a full section on the Hurricane Katrina. The final chapter is a consumers guide that provides information for anyone, with easily understandable advice on planning a funeral.