On Saturday, New Orleans held a multifaith memorial service to honor 19 African American individuals whose remains were returned after being sent to Germany for racist 19th-century research. The service, featuring a jazz funeral—an iconic local tradition—took place at the Hurricane Katrina Memorial and emphasized the humanity of the deceased. Monique Guillory, president of Dillard University, highlighted the significance of recognizing the dignity of individuals who were subjected to “horrific” posthumous treatment.
The remains belonged to individuals who died at Charity Hospital between 1871 and 1872, which served a diverse population during a time of severe racial oppression. The hospital closed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. These individuals’ skulls were used in phrenological studies—an outdated belief that physical features could define racial characteristics—conducted by a German researcher. Historian Eva Baham noted the exploitation faced by Black individuals, both living and deceased, emphasizing their lack of agency.
The University of Leipzig reached out to New Orleans in 2023 to facilitate the remains’ return. Baham described the collaboration as a moral effort to restore dignity to these individuals. Researchers at Dillard University are now working to trace potential descendants and uncover more about the lives of those buried. Guillory remarked on the worthiness of recognition for these individuals, who despite their impoverished circumstances, had names and identities within the vibrant city they once inhabited. The memorial served as a poignant acknowledgment of their humanity and the legacies they leave behind.
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