Penn Museum Buries 19th Century Black Philadelphians' Remains Amid Controversy

Critics argue the burial lacked sufficient community input and call for more identification efforts.

The University of Pennsylvania held a memorial service and buried the remains of 19 Black Philadelphians, whose skulls were used in racist scientific studies in the 19th century.
Critics argue the burial process was rushed and lacked community input, with some activists and researchers calling for more efforts to identify the remains.
The burial took place at Eden Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery, with the possibility of the burial being reversible if further identification is possible.
The Penn Museum has pledged to repatriate more remains from its collection, amid broader discussions on the ethical treatment of human remains.
The event has sparked a debate on the responsibility of institutions in addressing historical wrongs and the importance of community involvement in such processes.