Black Skulls Return: New Orleans Begins Healing Journey

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Echoes of Pseudoscience

The journey of 19 Black American skulls finding their way back to New Orleans from Leipzig, Germany, marks a moment of profound significance. These ancestral remains were taken from New Orleans during the 1880s, destined for distant laboratories (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). This repatriation is part of a dark chapter in history, reflecting a period when Black bodies were exploited for the advancement of so-called “racial pseudoscience,” a practice defined by the use of faulty scientific ideas to justify hierarchies among races.

Scientists of that era engaged in practices such as craniometry, which involved measuring human skulls to assert alleged biological differences between racial groups (A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them?). They believed they could link skull shape or size to intelligence, character, or moral worth, creating a pseudo-scientific basis for oppression (Skulls in print: scientific racism in the transatlantic world). Phrenology, the study of skull bumps to predict personality traits, also became a tool for pseudo-scientific racism. These collections of human remains were often amassed without consent, particularly from marginalized Black individuals, and maintained by institutions that sought to legitimize social stratification through fabricated biological evidence (The “Racial Brain” Collector and the Dark History of Eugenics). This tragic period served to perpetuate stereotypes and justify systems of intense inequality (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). Consequently, the repatriation represents a vital effort to honor these individuals and reclaim their inherent dignity.

A City Welcomes Its Ancestors

The journey to retrieve these ancestors began when the University of Leipzig contacted the City of New Orleans in 2023 (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). This contact acknowledged a wrong from over a century ago. Dillard University, a historically Black institution in New Orleans, then formed a Cultural Repatriation Committee in 2024. Its crucial role included identifying the individuals and establishing their genealogy, working towards a fuller understanding of who these ancestors were (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later).

Upon their return, the remains received a New Orleans-style jazz funeral, a cultural expression of profound mourning and joyous celebration (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). The jazz funeral reflected the city’s rich heritage and served as a powerful way to recognize these individuals as people with families and personal histories, far beyond their reduction to scientific specimens (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). This procession, with its unique blend of solemn march and vibrant music, provided a communal space for healing and remembrance for the entire city.

The Long Road to Reconciliation

The repatriation of these ancestral remains carries immense significance for the Black community and for the pursuit of justice. It offers a crucial opportunity to amend past injustices and to confront the profound harm inflicted by racial pseudoscience (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). Acknowledging the ethical implications of such practices and working to correct them is a step towards a more truthful historical narrative.

This event sits within a broader movement where similar efforts are underway globally (Black Americans’ Skulls Return to New Orleans After 150 Years). Institutions worldwide are grappling with their historical roles in acquiring and holding human remains, especially those taken without consent from marginalized communities. In addition to the University of Leipzig and Dillard University, the University Medical Center New Orleans also played a crucial role in supporting this project, contributing significant funding to the endeavor (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). Such collaborations are essential for fostering reconciliation and restoring the dignity that was denied to these individuals for so long.

Honoring the Unnamed Dead

The journey to fully identify all individuals among the repatriated remains presents ongoing challenges. Despite the dedicated efforts of Dillard University’s Cultural Repatriation Committee, no direct descendants have been identified yet (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later). The committee used death records from Charity Hospital, a significant public medical facility in New Orleans, to establish historical context. This effort shed light on the circumstances surrounding the individuals’ lives, even if it did not immediately lead to family connections (Remains of 19 Black Americans returned to New Orleans nearly 150 years later).

The presence of unidentified individuals among the repatriated bones complicates the memorialization efforts. It raises ethical and practical questions about how to honor and remember those whose identities and family histories cannot be traced (A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them?). However, memorial services and monuments often serve as symbols of collective remembrance. They acknowledge shared suffering and provide a place for healing and recognition, even when individual names remain unknown. The community has embraced these ancestors, recognizing them as an important part of the city’s shared past.

A Future Forged in Remembrance

The return of these skulls and the ongoing efforts to honor them demonstrate a powerful commitment to historical accountability and healing (Black Americans’ Skulls Return to New Orleans After 150 Years). This act goes beyond simply returning physical remains; it aims to restore a sense of humanity and respect that was stripped away more than a century ago. It emphasizes that these individuals were people with lives, families, and untold stories, not merely objects for study.

Such repatriation projects often involve several long-term goals. These may include the reburial of the remains with appropriate rituals, the creation of permanent memorials, and continued research into the histories of the individuals. Furthermore, these efforts can lead to the establishment of educational programs designed to raise awareness about historical injustices and the enduring legacy of racism. The ultimate purpose of this ongoing work is to ensure that these ancestors are remembered with dignity and that their stories contribute to a more just and equitable future for all. This helps foster genuine community healing and reconciliation across generations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.