Tracy’s Story | Creating Grief Conscious Community

Mourning Lamela Pod by Subject to a Medical

There isn’t an easy answer to the origin of the black mourning band. The use of black clothing to show that the wearer is in mourning for the loss of a loved one, can be traced all the way back to ancient Rome, where the traditional white toga would be replaced with a black toga pulla. Over the centuries and in various cultures white and black have battled it out for dominance as the prevailing color for mourning however in the 14th century, Christian Churches had made the wearing of black at funerals a common custom. the 19th-century artist and professor F. Edward Hulme, explained the color black at funerals showed “the spiritual darkness of the soul unillumined by the Sun of righteousness.” By the 14th century, it was widely associated with death.What arguably set the color black aside for funerals was its expense. To get the deep dark color of black required multiple rounds of dyeing. Black clothing simply cost more than other colors and funerals; specifically important funerals were theater in the day. It was an opportunity to show off, make a political statement, and impress your peers and commoners alike. As Katie Thornton of the Atlantic put it; Funerals were the red carpets of the early modern era.The funeral of Queen Elizabeth the First in 1603 solidified black as the color of mourning. While black has become a more common color over the years and much less expensive it still has a historical connection with death and to this day is the most common color associated with mourning.While the wealthy and political were trying to one-up each other in the black clothing department the military found itself with a conundrum. Early military uniforms were colorful. The bright clothing helped differentiate the fighters on the battlefield. It helped build cohesion and recognition on the smoke-filled landscape. Uniforms were at their most glorious during the Napoleonic era in Europe. Bright colors, gold buttons and ribbons, silver braids and polished leather. The uniforms were intended to display authority, power, status, and glamor.They were everything but black.To allow for proper mourning while still wearing the uniform of the day the black armband as adopted. By adding a black armband to the uniform, the wearer was able to convey the appropriate honor and respect for the deceased while still being gloriously appointed in the dress uniform of the day. The black armband was quickly adopted by anyone who had a specific uniform to wear during the funeral rights. We still see the black armband worn today by sports teams wishing to show their respect of a lost member or important person.For law enforcement the practice of wearing a black armband quickly morphed into wearing a black band over the officer’s badge. Today it is common practice for law enforcement officers to wear a black band over the badge to pay respects to fellow officers who died in the line of duty.

Emily Lazar of the band and art project September Mourning is this week’s guest on Fresh is the Word. Lazar, who goes by September in the whole September Mourning universe, created a project that cultivates the joys and struggles of everyday life and results in a sense of upliftment even through some of its dark and murky images. Recently, the first volume of the September Mourning comic book hit shelves through Top Cow Productions/Image Comics along with the new ballet-inspired September Mourning video “Till You See Heaven” from their 2016 album Volume II. No Fresh is the Word discussion segment this week (next week it’ll be back). Follow September Mourning: Web: www.septembermourning.com Facebook: facebook.com/septembermourning Instagram: instagram.com/septembermourning Twitter: twitter.com/SeptmbrMourning September Mourning Comic Book: https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/september-mourning-vol.-1 Follow September (Emily Lazar): Facebook: facebook.com/septemberofseptembermourni

What we expected to be a goofy look at a strange niche in the gig economy turned out to be an exciting dive into a growing industry that could well have legs moving into the future. Want us to market your professional mourning startup? Email us at artnersincrime@outlook.comOur intro and outro music is by Commuted. Find him at https://commuted.bandcamp.com/Our art is by Jennifer Walker. Find her at https://www.jenniferwalker.design/ Sources for this episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_mourninghttps://biblehub.com/topical/naves/m/mourning--hired_mourners.htmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130328212707/http://www.rentamourner.co.uk/https://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1994-i-am-professional-mourner-6-realities-my-job.htmlhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-14-vw-651-story.htmlhttp://www.mariarosavaldesogo.com/requirements-professional-mourners-ancient-egypt/https://web.archive.org/web/20100726055651/http://www.danwei.org/music/professional_mourners.phphttps://www.wnyc.org/story/303342/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/a-funeral-like-no-other/article634820/https://venturebeat.com/2013/03/26/rent-a-mourner/https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/make-money-as-a-professional-mourner-2