New Orleans holds burial for African American skulls used in racist research
New Orleans celebrated the return and burial of the remains of 19 African American people whose skulls had been sent to Germany for racist research practices in the 19th century.June 1, 2025
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Five Key Discoveries in the Family Tree of Pope Leo XIV
On May 8, an American cardinal named Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Later that day, The Times, drawing on research by Jari C. Honora, a genealogist, reported that Prevost had recent African American ancestors. This revelation came from going back just three generations — what else might be found by looking even further into the past? Certainly, the fans of 'Finding Your Roots,' the PBS show I have hosted for 13 years, wanted to know. My inbox was flooded with emails asking us to trace the new pope's ancestry. In collaboration with the genealogists at American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami, we were able to go back as far his 12th-great-grandparents, who were born in the early 1500s. Here are some of our discoveries, which you can read in detail in The New York Times Magazine feature. Pope Leo's lineage is surprisingly international. His diverse ancestry reflects the history of American immigration. The forebears identified so far were born in France (40), Italy (24), Spain (21), the United States (22), Cuba (10), Canada (6), Haiti (1) and Guadeloupe (1). The birthplaces are unknown for another nine ancestors who have been identified. Many of Pope Leo's American-born ancestors were Black. Seventeen of the pope's American ancestors were Black, described in historical records in terms ranging from 'negresse' and 'free person of color' to 'mulâtresse créole' and 'quadroon.' Another Black ancestor, the pope's grandfather Joseph Nerval Martínez, was born in Haiti, to which his African Americans parents migrated from New Orleans before returning to the city in 1866. A dozen of the pope's ancestors were slaveholders — including several who were Black. We Traced Pope Leo XIV's Ancestry Back 500 Years. Here's What We Found. Noblemen, enslaved people, freedom fighters, slaveowners: what the complex family tree of the first American pontiff reveals. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sacramento train builder agrees to workplace review after racial harassment complaint
A German company with a large train manufacturing plant in Sacramento agreed to an independent review of its workplace practices after a worker reported race-based harassment, the California Civil Rights Department announced Wednesday. As part of the settlement, Siemens Mobility agreed to compensate the employee — who filed a complaint with the agency in 2023 — without admitting to any liability. That worker alleged that 'multiple co-workers over a period of several months would daily use derogatory terms either associated with Black people or Latinos,' according to a Civil Rights Department news release, which does not specify the amount of monetary compensation. The complainant 'identified as African American,' the department's public affairs staff clarified in an email to The Sacramento Bee. The employee, who worked at Siemens' Florin plant, claimed to have faced retaliation — including suspension and being escorted out of the French Road facility by security staff — for raising the concern about harassment, the news release said. A Siemens spokesperson, Kara Evanko, said that the claims of retaliation were 'false,' adding that the company 'is firmly committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination, intimidation, and harassment and denied the allegations in the complaint.' The eight-page settlement agreement specifies that Siemens Mobility has hired an outside consultant, approved by state regulators, to 'assess the efficacy of its equal employment opportunity practices' at the plant, which builds rolling stock. The consultant will look into any racial tensions, incidents of harassment and how the company handles complaints. The company will have to share with Civil Rights Department officials a written report by the consultant and then implement policies recommended by the consultant and the agency, or else return to mediation. 'There is no place for derogatory slurs in the workplace,' Civil Rights Director Kevin Kish said in a statement. 'Through this voluntary settlement, Siemens Mobility is doing the right thing to help protect workers in our state.' The Siemens Mobility facility in Florin is the company's headquarters for North American railway manufacturing. It employs over 2,500 people, according to the company's website. A unionization effort at the plant failed in March.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sickle Cell Awareness: Hampton Roads teen siblings diagnosed at birth
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Sickle Cell Disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, affecting the lives of 100,000 people, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen siblings, Morgan Tarrer, 15, and Olivia Tarrer, 19, of Virginia Beach represent that number. Data from the CDC also shows approximately 1 in 365 Black or African American newborns are born with SCD, which is the case for Morgan and Olivia, whose parents are carriers. The two were diagnosed at birth and are left with no choice but to embrace their condition as there is still no cure. 'So I have an abnormality of my Hemoglobin,' says Khristina Reid, Virginia Sickle Cell Network founder and mother of Morgan and Olivia. 'So I carry the C-gene, and Olivia and Morgan's dad, he carries the S-gene. Together our children have both genes. The S and C-gene. So they live with Hemoglobin S-C Disease. While there have been many advances in treating sickle cell disease, the reality for the siblings and others is reduced life expectancy and the probability of health complications. 'It's something that I've found is always on your mind,' says Olivia. 'I'm in college. I'm up in New York, so I'm very far from my family. And I've realized, especially living in dorms, being around with friends, that you have to be extra, extra careful. Because with sickle cell, you're very, immunocompromised.' CDC finding reveal, more than 90% of people diagnosed with sickle cell in the US are non-Hispanic black or African American. 'So the reason is, sickle cell disease was the body's kind of defense mechanism against malaria,' says Reid. 'So you will find the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease in your, locations that are near the equator. So Nigeria right now is the, largest country, with the largest population of people living with sickle cell disease.' Those diagnosed with SCD can range in symptoms from frequent infections, anemia, episodes of pain, problems with vision and tiredness. Olivia's says she experiences a great deal of fatigue. While she remains optimistic, there's always concern about her years ahead. 'That has been a problem in school for me,' she says. 'I remember last not last year, but my senior year of high school. All through high school, it was a struggle getting to school because we had it so early. I think the most challenging part is uncertainty about the future. I'm in film. I'm a NYU film, and it's a very physical job. It's also a very, You have to be up early, go to sleep late. And that's when I do that. When I am on set, it's very strenuous, and I worry that I won't be able to be at the same caliber, as my peers.' For information on the Virginia Sickle Cell Network, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
