Black Grief and Healing
Why We Need to Talk About Health Inequality, Trauma and Loss
- Editors
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"When Black people mourn, it is not only for the passing of loved ones. As a community, Black people will also be mourning the systemic inequalities, racial prejudices and oppressions we experience daily."
The stories and poems in this anthology illuminate the unique ways loss affects the Black community, and the effects of the widespread lack of understanding of traditional rituals and beliefs. They show us how experiences of collective loss during the pandemic, the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire and ongoing systemic health inequalities are experienced not just as individuals but also as part of a global community. Contributors from a range of backgrounds, professions, and identities discuss the challenges of grieving under the shadow of continuing adversity, including threats of deportation. Sources of strength and healing are also explored, from personal and spiritual responses to community initiatives and activism.
Poignant and inspiring, these are stories we all need to read, and provide us with insights into lives and losses which are all too often misunderstood and sidelined.
The stories and poems in this anthology illuminate the unique ways loss affects the Black community, and the effects of the widespread lack of understanding of traditional rituals and beliefs. They show us how experiences of collective loss during the pandemic, the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire and ongoing systemic health inequalities are experienced not just as individuals but also as part of a global community. Contributors from a range of backgrounds, professions, and identities discuss the challenges of grieving under the shadow of continuing adversity, including threats of deportation. Sources of strength and healing are also explored, from personal and spiritual responses to community initiatives and activism.
Poignant and inspiring, these are stories we all need to read, and provide us with insights into lives and losses which are all too often misunderstood and sidelined.
- Published: Sep 19 2024
- Pages: 256
- 228 x 152mm
- ISBN: 9781839973277
Press Reviews
Yvette Williams MBE, Justice 4 Grenfell campaign
An insightful exploration of systemic inequality, grief, and trauma in Black communities. This book offers poignant essays, including powerful narratives on the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire, that disproportionately impacted global majority families. It sheds light on the complexities of loss and the resilience of marginalised communities amidst devastating grief and finding ways to heal, juxtaposed to an ongoing fight for Justice.
Liz Rothschild – Outside the Box – Everyday Experiences of Death, Bereavement and Life. PCCS
These voices from the black community emanate compassion, authenticity, outrage and a new vision. We must all heed this drumbeat and review our practice and experience in the light of these truths. Grief is not colour blind.
Eloise Rees, Netgalley
Grief is a strange thing. There is no true way to heal from the shock of losing a loved one, and the grieving process cannot be done linearly. However, the importance of sharing those experiences cannot be underestimated, especially as a Black person in the diaspora, to feel less alone. Black Grief and Healing does exactly that. An anthology of stories and poems, it delves deeper into the experiences of people from all walks of life, who have lost loved ones and how that has impacted them and their families. All this against the backdrop of systematic racism, the onslaught of COVID and more. Definitely a book to read if you are interested in any of these themes.
Eila Hale, Netgalley
A timely and important book that centers Black grief. Powerful, informative, sensitively written - highly recommended reading for everyone.
- Jax Davis, Netgalley
I genuinely feel this is one of the most important books that will come out this year. The grief as talked about here is overlooked in our society and racism impacts grief a lot. The essays offer many perspectives and talk about many types of grief and how they overlap for the Black community. I recommended white people to read this too but to reflect on this respectfully, bearing in mind that we are here to learn but this is not written for us, and this space is not ours.
Dr Sam Royston - Research and Policy Director, Marie Curie
Black Grief and Healing is a compelling collection of reflections on the complexities of bereavement and loss in the presence of systemically racist and oppressive systems. Through bringing together a beautiful anthology of poems, stories and essays the authors provide a deeply moving reminder that there is no one way to tell the story of grief. It is important reading for anyone working to support people affected by bereavement.
Kelechi Okafor, Author and social commentator
Blackness and grief have always seemed to go hand in hand, as if by design. Through this timely and important body of work, we can see the shades and textures of grief. This is necessary if we are to know liberation in this lifetime. Incredible explorations and a book everybody should read whether they're Black or not.
Sarah Hughes, MIND CEO
A powerful and painful reflection of Black Grief, with the collective wisdom that offers hope and a way of understanding the experience that for too long has been misunderstood and ignored. Healing is and should be possible, this book gives us the way.