Mississippi Repast Meals
Serving Coffee circa 1935, Courtesy of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Running a series of food and funerals starting today. The sources came from WPA records archived in the US Library of Congress. Our first story comes from Mississippi. In Jackson Mississippi African-Americans celebrated the life of loved ones and friends in style and took steps to insure their own home going celebration would be memorable. Many joined benevolent societies (BS) paying monthly dues to plan for their funeral arrangements. They desired well attended wakes. Church services, internment, and great food served thereafter with great stories about them. BS members had the responsibility of carrying out the request of the deceased including providing refreshment at the funeral. Then and now gifting those who have recently given birth and those in mourning good hot meals and refreshments to serve to their house guests is still an act of kindness that we can all do.
