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Jazz Funeral to Honor Repatriated Remains of William Roberts

6/1/2025

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Roberts' Remains Repatriated

In a poignant tribute to history, the remains of William Roberts, a 23-year-old Black laborer who died in 1872, are finally returning to New Orleans. His skull, along with 18 others, was wrongfully used in discredited racial research in Germany. A jazz funeral will celebrate their repatriation, honoring their lives and legacy.

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Remains Repatriated Honoring Humanity

The repatriation of 19 Black Americans' remains, once subjected to racial experiments in 1880s Germany, brings a poignant closure to a dark chapter. In New Orleans, Dillard University and local organizations will host a jazz funeral to honor their lives, celebrating their humanity and the rich histories that connect us all, despite the struggle to find their descendants.

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Roberts' Remains Repatriated

In a poignant tribute to history, the remains of William Roberts, a 23-year-old Black laborer who died in 1872, are finally returning to New Orleans. His skull, along with 18 others, was wrongfully used in discredited racial research in Germany. A jazz funeral will celebrate their repatriation, honoring their lives and legacy.

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