When a loved one passes, sometimes we “pour one out for the homie” by sloshing a bit of liquor onto the ground in honor of the deceased. It’s a centuries-deep ritual our people have been doing forever.
Where does it come from?
In Ancient Egypt, libations, typically water, were poured as an offering for the dead. The ritual has stood the test of time, often appearing in hip-hop culture as an ode and act of reverence for the ones we’ve lost.
For our people, libation ceremonies are considered an offering to those who walked the Earth before us. It’s a way to express gratitude and is commonplace at family reunions, weddings, and religious celebrations.
Some Black churches are even keeping the old ritual alive incorporating it into their service, by pouring libations, drumming, and using the liquid to anoint those in need of prayer. It’s an intentional way to honor our ancestors.
We live in an anti-Black world that tries to tell us who we are. But by leaning into and reclaiming our practices, we can never be swayed from our truths.
Next time you want to honor an ancestor, pour one out for them and speak aloud to express gratitude for their life and all they’ve given you.