New Orleans Buries African American Skulls Used in Racist Research | Black Agenda Report

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

More Stories

Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Black Agenda Radio July 28, 2023
28 Jul 2023
Exposing and opposing U.S. unilateral economic coercive measures and fighting for justice at home, Glen Ford's analysis of the bipartisan war on Venezuela, and closing the Rikers Island jail and…
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Solidarity with Venezuela, and Getting Justice in the U.S.
28 Jul 2023
I was invited to join a delegation in Venezuela with the International People’s Tribunal on U.S.
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Glen Ford on the U.S. War Against Venezuela
28 Jul 2023
This week I’m reporting from Caracas, Venezuela.
Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
Closing Rikers Island and Decarcerating New York City
28 Jul 2023
Melanie Dominguez is lead organizer for the Katal Center for Equity, Health and Justice.
Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
Censorship of the Black Left
26 Jul 2023
As the empire crumbles, the neoliberal capitalist order run by a corrupt duopoly is working to silence dissent. The Black left, of course, is always the first target.