Personal reflections on bereavement in the midst of a pandemic: how it affected the way we, the Black community, celebrated the lives of those we lost

Description

Death is universal; and the responses to it vary greatly between people from differing cultures and communities worldwide. In this paper loss and responses to it, in the midst of the pandemic, within the Black community, will be reflected upon. It will touch upon how, the inability to connect with family and community members was dealt with and the effects it has had on the process of closure for those who mourn. Utilising a lived ‘lay perspective’ experience’, we will reflect upon pre- and mid-pandemic grief, loss, and celebrations of life. It will reflect on the historically situated importance of traditional practices around bereavement, grieving, burial rites, and the way we honour those who have departed before us. The importance of the wake, nine night, and how these were affected, within the context of the COVID pandemic, will be discussed.

Period	3 Sep 2021
Event title	15th International Conference on the Social Context of Death, Dying and Disposal: Diversity and Decolonisation
Event type	Conference
Conference number	15
Location	Manchester, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	International