Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

New Orleans Buries African American Skulls Used in Racist Research
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
06 Jun 2025
🖨️ Print Article

Black Agenda Radio · New Orleans Buries African American Skulls Used in Racist Research

Nineteen Black people who died at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, in December 1871 and January 1872 were decapitated and their skulls were removed and sent to Leipzig, Germany for study in the racist pseudo-science known as phrenology. In 2023, the University of Leipzig contacted New Orleans officials and offered to repatriate the skulls, which were recently returned. On May 31st, a jazz funeral was held for these men and women, and the remains were properly interred. Our guest is Dr. Eva Baham. She is a professor at Dillard University in New Orleans and Chair of the Repatriation Committee.

Louisiana
Germany
Colonialism
African America
Racist Medicine

Related Podcasts

BAR Radio Logo
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio May 8, 2026
08 May 2026
In this week’s segment, we discuss a military attack carried out by Western-backed insurgents against the African nation Mali and the imperialist a
ACLU
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Louisiana v. Callais and the Black Vote
08 May 2026
The Supreme Court ruling in the case Louisiana v.
Lousiana
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
The Struggle for Black Electoral Power in Louisiana
08 May 2026
C.C. Campbell Rock is a New Orleans-based journalist.

More Stories


  • Worthy and Unworthy Protest
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Worthy and Unworthy Protest
    30 Nov 2022
    Protesters in some nations are celebrated. Others are ignored. Protest is a human right to be respected but instead can be used as a pretext for nefarious motives such as regime change.
  • Club None Long To Belong To…*
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Club None Long To Belong To…*
    30 Nov 2022
                                                         
  • An African View On Ukraine
    Jacqueline Luqman
    An African View On Ukraine
    30 Nov 2022
    Dr. Fred M'Membe, President of the Socialist Party of Zambia, was a recent guest on the Sputnik program, By Any Means Necessary. He discussed an African view of the crisis in Ukraine.
  • China's Leadership Shines Bright in Asia's Moment
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    China's Leadership Shines Bright in Asia's Moment
    30 Nov 2022
    China shows leadership in Asia while the U.S. relies on threats and interference to get its way.
  • BAR Book Forum: Miguel Valerio’s Book, “Sovereign Joy: Afro-Mexican Kings and Queens”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Miguel Valerio’s Book, “Sovereign Joy: Afro-Mexican Kings and Queens”
    30 Nov 2022
    This week’s featured author is Miguel Valerio. Valerio is Assistant Professor of Spanish at Washington University in St. Louis. His book is Sovereign Joy: Afro-Mexican Kings and Queens, 1539-1640.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us