Why Phrases Like "Rest in Power" Belong to the Black Community

“Rest in power" is a phrase popularized in the black community, a revolutionary eulogy. There are two primary ways it's generally used to honor someone who made significant contributions to society, like in the case of John Lewis, the late civil rights leader and House representative. Or when someone's suffered a great injustice, as in the case of Sandra Bland, a Black woman found hanging in her jail cell, or Trayvon Martin, a teenager fatally shot to death while walking home with an Arizona Iced Tea and Skittles. The phrase "rest in power," is a way of honoring someone who passed away in the black community, promising to keep not just their memory but their hopes and dreams alive.

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