[Jennifer H.]

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?

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Name : Jennifer H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 30, City : Montgomery, State : AL, Country : United States, Occupation : Therapist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Lucas-S]

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.

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Name : Lucas-S, Gender : M, City : FAFB, State : WA, Country : United States, 

[ED25495]

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.

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Name : ED25495, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 46, City : Kansas City, State : MO, Country : United States, 

[JerryS]

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.

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Name : JerryS, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : New Britain, State : CT, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Doug25653]

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.

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Name : Doug25653, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : New Age/Metaphysical, Age : 39, City : Phoenix, State : AZ, Country : United States, Occupation : Administrator, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Chris32174]

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

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Name : Chris32174, City : waldorf, State : MD, Country : United States, 

[jake]

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.

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Name : jake, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Orthodox Christian, Age : 35, City : Texarkana, State : AR, Country : United States, Occupation : funeral home, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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