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The Rev. Dr. Sequola Dawson delivers a bold and necessary intervention in her critique of Black Church funeral practices. Identifying as an “earth theologian” and “bereavement minister,” Dawson advocates for environmentally conscious “green funerals” that honor both God’s covenant with the faithful and our collective responsibility to steward the land. Her arguments are firmly anchored in ecclesial training, environmental research, intimate knowledge of the Black community, and practical experience with parishioners. (Pictured above is the author)
I am a non-Black person of color interested in nature-based burial practices. I approach The Green Funeral: Honoring the Environment While Beautifying Funeral Practices with awareness of my social location and the limitations of my perspective on Black traditions and experiences. What makes it particularly compelling is Dawson’s unvarnished perspective on the Black Church. She doesn’t shy away from challenging long-held beliefs and attitudes about dying, death, and the ecological crisis—a courage rooted in her deep love for and commitment to her community. Her writing skillfully blends academic rigor with the persuasive, prophetic call to action characteristic of faith leaders.
Dawson’s focus on environmental theology opens crucial conversations about how communities of faith can respond to the climate crisis through reimagined death practices. For readers interested in nature-based burials, this book provides theological grounding and cultural context often missing from mainstream green death discourse. It’s essential reading for anyone seeking to integrate ecological justice with spiritual practice and community tradition.
Editor's Note: This review was originally published in San Francisco Book Review.
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