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On Lauren Halsey’s portal hoppin hood poppin, 2023
By Robin D. G. Kelley

In Black Christian traditions a funeral is called a homegoing, when God takes the deceased “home” to heaven, where there is no more toil or trouble. Standard eulogies extolling the virtues and accomplishments of the departed are rare. A homegoing service is a space for fellowship and remembrance, where testimonies resemble the blues in their mix of humor, irreverence, and truth-telling. Stories are spun from memories, and memories are rooted in time and place. Music dominates the proceedings. Mourners make a …