In the 1870s, 19 Black patients died at a New Orleans hospital, with their heads sent to Germany for phrenological studies linking skull shape to intellect. Following a two-year process initiated by the University of Leipzig, their skulls were repatriated to Louisiana in 2023 and honored in a jazz funeral, reflecting New Orleans cultural traditions. Historian Eva Baham highlighted the importance of addressing the past injustices, urging society to remember these lives not just in anger, but with a vision for justice and healing. This return marks a significant step in recognizing and repatriating African American remains, a broader issue still prevalent today.
The skulls of those 19 patients have now been repatriated to Louisiana after more than a century abroad, honoring their lives with a jazz funeral.
Eva Baham, historian from Dillard University, emphasized the importance of reflection on the racial injustices faced by the deceased, urging to move beyond anger.
Collection
[
|
...
]