A Beautiful Memory: The Art of African American Embalming
Oakland Tribune, News Report + 
, Words: Kamika Dunlap, Photos: Jane Tyska, Posted: Mar 23, 2006
Editor's Note: This story was produced as a result of a reporting fellowship sponsored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Knight Foundation, along with New America Media. It accompanies the article, New Orleans' Black Funeral Business Faces a Grim Future.
New Orleans -- Patrick Sanders uses mascara, eyebrow pencils and a fingernail file to do whatever it takes to give a body a life-like appearance. He strives for perfection in the art and science of preservation, using his skills as an embalmer. Click arrow above to view video
``I do my best to satisfy the families because this is the last time they're seeing their loved ones in the human flesh,'' said Sanders, a funeral director and embalmer at Robottom Mortuary in Louisiana.
``I want to give them that life-like appearance that's going to be everlasting.''
Sanders, an African-American embalmer, works primarily on bodies of loved ones from the black community. He said African Americans are traditionally more concerned about appearance and neatness during the final open-casket presentations of their loved ones.
``Black people are very particular about the way they look and dress,'' he
said. ``Their expectation of being perfectly manicured in life is the same in
death.''
Sometimes their expectations are even greater in death, he added. Sanders uses
makeup to help enhance natural complexion. For years, black morticians have
been challenged to hone their artistry skills. Their work often involved masking
the effects of violent deaths, such as lynchings.
But some of the bodies from Hurricane Katrina were so badly decomposed they tested even the best of skills, Sanders said. ``We couldn't do anything because some of the bodies weren't allowed for public viewing,'' he said. ``Families had to make a choice to cremate the bodies because of the stench and other sanitary issues.''
In most cases, Sanders said, the process of embalming takes about three hours from start to finish. He disinfects and bathes the body, and washes the hair. Embalming fluid is injected into an artery while the blood is drained from a nearby vein or from the heart. After the body is embalmed he dresses it, removes wild hair from the eyebrows and chin, and cleans the fingernails. He aims to make the body tissue somewhat soft and pliable. Touch and feel are important for children to understand the process of death, Sanders said.
His goal is to please families of the deceased. Sanders said he hopes to make them proud. ``The ultimate compliment is to hear `mama looks good' or `daddy looks like he's sleeping,' '' he said.
Photography by Jane Tyska
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