As Philly reckons with MOVE remains tragedy, anthropologists

As Philly reckons with MOVE remains tragedy, anthropologists must confront our role


While news of the possession and mishandling of remains of two children of the MOVE family is considered abhorrent and shocking to many biological anthropologists, many of us — particularly Black and Indigenous biological anthropologists — were not surprised. This is not because we approve of the use of identified victims’ remains in curation, display, or instruction. We do not. It is unremarkable because the structures that birthed and surround the practice of anthropology have their foundations in racist and colonialist ideologies. And until recently, academia and science have struggled to engage with these histories.
As biological anthropologists we recognize and are grateful for the contributions that research with the remains of past and willed individuals’ (those who have donated their body to science) has provided our understanding of human evolution, health, and history. We are also aware of the important insight forensic examinations can provide in assessing trauma to victims of crime and abuse. These scientific tools, particularly when used by modern biocultural anthropologists, help shed light on inequities, speak for the silenced, and teach us the inconvenient truths of past human choices.

Related Keywords

United States , City Of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , American , Delisha Africa , Philadelphia Office Of The Medical Examiner , , Institutional Review Boards , Native American Graves Protection , Repatriation Act , Native American , Review Boards , Anthropology Human Remains Ethics Move Bombing , ஒன்றுபட்டது மாநிலங்களில் , நகரம் ஆஃப் பிலடெல்பியா , பென்சில்வேனியா , பிலடெல்பியா , அமெரிக்கன் , நிறுவன விமர்சனம் பலகைகள் , பூர்வீகம் அமெரிக்கன் கல்லறைகள் ப்ரொடெக்ஶந் , திருப்பி அனுப்புதல் நாடகம் , பூர்வீகம் அமெரிக்கன் , விமர்சனம் பலகைகள் ,

© 2025 Vimarsana