Original Message (Pre-Screened)
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: Do whites get dark after embalming?
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An African-American friend of mine told me white people have funerals so soon after someone dies (three days or so) because they start to turn a dark color after embalming. She said African-American families wait longer. Does anyone know if this is true? Do we turn a different color?
Posted:8/14/2002
By:
Jennifer H. , Montgomery, AL, United States , 30 , Female , Methodist , White/Caucasian , Straight , Therapist , Over 4 Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID: 24c8b8b4-4eab-4ad1-b429-5db8cc0fb454
Responses:6
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Pre-screened Responses
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: When the skin starts to turn...
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In reality, the skin first becomes more pale as the bloodflow stops. The skin doesn't start to turn darker until the skin begins to rot. Here in the United States we have funerals while the bodies are still distinguishable.
Posted:8/19/2002
By:
Lucas S. , FAFB, WA, United States , Male
Mesg ID: 1dd33840-9d72-44e8-89c4-c05b094e4f7b
Responses:0
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: Just as white as always in my experience
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I've been to funerals at which the deceased was white, and the funeral took place more than three days after the death. They looked just as white then as they did when they were living.
Posted:8/19/2002
By:
E.D. , Kansas City, MO, United States , 46 , Female , Black/African American
Mesg ID: e5563e5c-6687-402b-aae0-209de4785f3c
Responses:0
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: Skin darkening does occur
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It is a slow process, but a darkening of the skin after death is noticable in people of light complexion, regardless of the embalming techniques. My light-complected Mexican father-in-law died, and four days later his skin was noticably darker, to the point that my black sister-in-law pointed it out to me.
Posted:8/19/2002
By:
Doug , Phoenix, AZ, United States , 39 , Male , New Age/Metaphysical , White/Caucasian , Gay , Administrator , 2 Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID: 22b3a944-55c5-4aff-93ff-f1a8fbfcb756
Responses:1
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: The wonders of modern embalming
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I don't know the specific answer to your question, but burial customs vary widely. Jews don't embalm their dead, don't use an open coffin and hold funerals within a day if at all possible. The Irish are famous, rightly or wrongly, for extended wakes. So far as I know, modern embalming techniques pretty much preserve the body (color and all, with makeup) for many days. The timing of the viewing and funeral is generally at the family's convenience.
Posted:8/19/2002
By:
Jerry S. , New Britain, CT, United States , 54 , Male , Jewish , White/Caucasian , Straight , 4 Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID: 154fba2b-7fe0-49af-854e-c11c5c4fefe4
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Unscreened Responses
Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: I work in a funeral home
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I have worked in 4 funeral homes, and am serious that white people do not get darker, once the embalming and cavity fluid begin to take effect and stiffen the body, We massage areas of post mortem lividity to ensure that as much embalming fluid as possible makes it to the extremities. I have never seen anyone get darker after embalming, you set the color by the index of fluids, and if you have a good embalmer the person usually looks better than when he/she came into the facility. another point is that some embalmers are not highly skilled in the cosmetic department and waxes used.
Posted:11/16/2003
By:
jake , texarkana, AR, United States , 35 , Male , Orthodox Christian , White/Caucasian , Straight , funeral home , 2 Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID: 1f87109a-d0de-485f-bb5b-486ff654dce3
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Category: Race/Ethnicity
Subject: Do whites turn DARK
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i AM A FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND EMBALMER. YES WHITE PEOPLE DO TURN DARK BUT IT IS WHEN THEY ARE NOT EMBAMED SOON AFTER DEATH. THEY TURN DARK BECAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWMN OF THE MATERIAL THAT GIVES BLOOD ITS PIMGMENT. THIS SUBSTANCE WILL PASS THROUGHT THE WALLS OF THE BLOOD VESSELS AND INTO THE SKIN MAKING THEM LOOK THIS ALSO HAPPENS TO FAIR SKINNED BLACK PEOPLE TOO. ON THE OTHER HAND WHITES HAVE THERE FUNERALS EARLIER THEN BLACKS IS BEACUSE THEY MY HAVE A BETTER FINACIAL STANDING AT THE TIME OF DEATH. THEY MAY HAVE DONE WHAT IS CALLED A PRE-NEED ARRANGEMENT, BUT I HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH BROKE WHITE FAMILIES WHO RELATIVE TOOK ALONG TIME TO FUNERALIZE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON IF THE DECESED PLANNED FOR THERE DEATH
Posted:1/2/2003
By:
Chris , waldorf, MD, United States
Mesg ID: b71f927c-2c1e-4e0e-ac33-8c7d1a4951f1
Responses:0
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