Death, Dying, and Grief - A Cultural Perspective on the End of Life from a Black Woman with Dr. Amelia Phillips

Send us Fan MailToday we have an opportunity to share a conversation with Dr. Amelia Phillips, a black woman working in a variety of fields dominated by white men including Engineering Information technology and real estate. Dr. Phillips  is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a BS degree in Astronautical Engineering and a BS in Archaeology along with an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. She completed her PhD at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Computer Security.She has also managed rock bands, worked on an assembly line; has been a real estate broker, computer consultant, and hard money lender. She was a Fulbright Scholar at the Polytechnic of Namibia and returned there over the course of more than a decade as they grew to become the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Dr. Phillips, a black woman with a diverse background, shares her unique life experiences and perspectives on death and dying. She reflects on the impact of her mother's death at a young age and how it shaped her outlook on life. Dr. Phillips discusses the African American view of death and the role of funerals in the community. She also talks about her current work, challenges she faces, and her desire to leave a lasting impact on the world. Dr. Phillips discusses how she feels supported at the end of life. She talks about the importance of having good friends and accountability partners who provide emotional support and keep her motivated. She also emphasizes the significance of staying connected with spiritual practices and preparing for the next transition. The conversation touches on the fear of leaving a messy living space after death and the importance of decluttering and simplifying one's belongings. The idea of gifting meaningful items to friends and community members is also discussed as a way to pass on cherished mementos.https://www.sfltimes.com/news/black-news-news/origins-and-history-of-the-black-funeral-servicehttps://blogs.loc.gov/inside_adams/2021/02/african-american-funeral-homes/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/01/black-funeral-homes-mourning/426807/https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sponsor-story/evan-w-smith-funeral-services/2021/02/01/african-american-funeral-homes-essential-throughout-history-and-today/4211105001/https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-black-funeral-homes-closing-ron-alexander/Support the showWe very much want to hear your thoughts. Please join us on Substack for our community chat.This podcast helps anyone dealing with loss. It can guide you with end-of-life planning and death-positive resources. Check out our introductory episode to learn more about Annalouiza, Wakil, and our vision/mission to normalize and destigmatize conversations about death, dying, grief, and loss.You can find us on SubStack, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and BlueSky. You are also invited to subscribe to support us financially. Anyone who supports us at any level will have access to Premium content, special online meet-ups, and one-on-one time with Annalouiza or Wakil.And we would love your feedback and want to hear your stories. You can email us at [email protected] want to be transparent that we use AI tools to help us with titles, show notes, editing, and introductions....