The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission will present a screening of the acclaimed new PBS documentary Homegoings which examines the rarely-seen world of undertaking in the black community, where funeral rites draw on a rich palette of tradition, history, and celebration. The documentary will be screened on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the SC Department of Archives and History in Columbia. A reception will begin at 5:00 p.m., and a panel discussion will take place at 6:00 p.m., with the screening to follow at 6:45 p.m. SC Humanities supported this program with a Mini Grant in May 2013.
Homegoings is told through the eyes of funderal director Isaiah Owens and is filmed at Owens Funeral Home in New York City’s historic Harlem neighborhood. More information about the documentary can be found on the website: http://www.homegoings.com/. The documentary will premiere on national public television on June 24th at 10:00 p.m.
The SC African American Heritage Commission has arranged for a panel of scholars to speak both before and following the screening. The Reverend Chris Leevy Johnson, James T. Glemming of Flemming’s Funeral Home, and Dr. Abel Bartley of Clemson University will talk about African American funeral traditions specific to South Carolina, including those of the Gullah community. Beryl Dakers will moderate the panel discussion.
The event will take place at the SC Department of Archives and History located at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223. The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. Please RSVP to 843-917-3350.
For more information about this project or about the SC African American Heritage Commission, please visit the website at: http://shpo.sc.gov/res/Pages/SCAAHC.aspx.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. SC Humanities programs and initiatives are balanced, reflecting sensitivity to the diversity of ideas, encourage open dialogue, demonstrate integrity, and are ethical in operations.
