American Museum of Natural History to return thousands of stolen skeletons claiming racist practices

[Kamaji]

American Museum of Natural History to return thousands of stolen skeletons claiming racist practices, grave robbing of Indigenous, black peoples: report

By Katherine Donlevy
Published Oct. 15, 2023

One of the Big Apple’s most iconic museums is ditching its collection of some 12,000 human remains — claiming the institution followed racist practices by robbing the graves of Indigenous and black peoples.

The American Museum of Natural History will remove one dozen exhibits currently on display in order for examination to determine their origins and identities, according to an internal memo obtained by the New York Times.

“Human remains collections were made possible by extreme imbalances of power,” Sean M. Decatur, who became the museum’s president in April, told his staff in a letter this week.

“Moreover, many researchers in the 19th and 20th centuries then used such collections to advance deeply flawed scientific agendas rooted in white supremacy — namely the identification of physical differences that could reinforce models of racial hierarchy.”

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Source:  https://nypost.com/2023/10/15/american-museum-of-natural-history-to-return-12000-human-remains/

[Kamaji]

[PeteS in CA]

“Human remains collections were made possible by extreme imbalances of power,” Sean M. Decatur, who became the museum’s president in April, told his staff in a letter this week. 1.

“Moreover, many researchers in the 19th and 20th centuries then used such collections to advance deeply flawed scientific agendas rooted in white supremacy — namely the identification of physical differences that could reinforce models of racial hierarchy.” 2.

1. This sound mostly BS, but won't say, "They're just ______," attitudes never happened.

2. "Racial hierarchy" is a red herring here. Late 19th and early 20th Century Progressives totally bought into Social Darwinism, the idea more advanced social organization and science/technology denoted evolutionary advancement. It was racism, but a racism that was derived from pseudo-science.

[mountaineer]

Don't care.