ANTH 057C. Interrogating Forensic Power: Philadelphia and the MOVE Massacre

This course examines the politics of forensic knowledge production in Philadelphia, with a focus on the MOVE bombing of 1985 as a defining moment in the city’s fraught relationship with state power, racialized violence, and scientific authority. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we will explore how forensic science has been mobilized to sustain and contest power in urban settings, tracing its impact on narratives of justice, accountability, and memory. By grounding our study in Philadelphia’s unique historical and social landscape, the course situates the MOVE massacre within broader debates about the limits and possibilities of forensic knowledge as a tool for addressing systemic inequities.
Using the MOVE massacre as the departing point for our exploration, students will analyze the intersection of science, law, politics, and race in the city. The course will also explore Philadelphia’s rich history of activism and resistance to state violence, engaging with community organizations, legal advocates, and cultural institutions. Particular attention will be given to the role of anthropologists as forensic experts in the aftermath of the bombing, especially bearing in mind the troublesome new findings regarding the abuse by two anthropologists at the University of Pennsylvania of the remains of Katricia and Delicia Africa, two of the six children killed in 1985. This controversy highlights how forensic anthropology classrooms have historically functioned as sites where the boundaries of justice and the politics of repair are negotiated. Students will learn from activists and experts working to challenge dominant narratives and reclaim forensic practices for community empowerment. Together, we will examine how the politics of knowledge production shape urban life, governance, and struggles for justice.

This course will be taught in Philadelphia as part of the Tri-Co Philly Program.
Social sciences.
1 credit.
Spring 2026. Azuero-Quijano.
Catalog chapter: Sociology and Anthropology
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/sociology-anthropology

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