Voodoo, also known as Voodou, is a religion that originated in Africa that later spread throughout the Western Hemisphere due to the slave trade. Its ability to provide those who practice it with a sense of connection to otherworldly power makes it one of the most influential religions in history. However, it does suffer from common misconceptions due to factors such as the media and those who embrace the demonic side of it. For those who practice it in the correct manner, it expresses a great sense of care for others through healing and allows people to connect with one another.
The origins of Voodoo can be traced back to 1724 when salves were commonly being shipped into New Orleans, Louisiana from various parts of Africa and Haiti. It was here where Voodooism was at its peak and acted as the staple of entire civilizations. The healing aspects that Voodoo originated from in Africa and Haiti still remain the main focus of the religion along with the sense of fellowship with nature that is brought with it. In Africa, the religion guides people to their everyday lives. The priests and witchdoctors have high regards and authority among the community due to their close relationship with the spirits and gods. The spread into the Americas did not reach its prime until the late 1960s and early 1970s in places such as New Orleans, New York, and Chicago as these were the places that the older generations of slaves flocked to after gaining freedom. During this time the Civil Rights’ Act were undergoing and young African Americas were embracing their African roots and returning to the practice of Voodoo.
As slaves were beaten into submission, they were forced to cling on to the one common factor that would hold them together in their time o...
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..., David. "An Up-Close Look at Haitian Voodoo Rituals." Slate Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Singh, Servina. "A Brief History Of Voodoo." A Brief History Of Voodoo. N.p., 1994. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
Tallant, Robert. Voodoo in New Orleans. New York: Macmillan, 1946. Print.
Williams, Yona. "Latest Articles UFO and Fallen Angels Simply Unexplainable Information and Theories Ghost And Demons Space and Astrology Technology Articles Religion Articles NASA Articles Meditation And Spirituality Personal Accounts Self Improvement Mars Coverage Pictures And Multimedia Other Exciting News Unexplainable Video Library Ancient Civilizations Unexplainable Weather Political Conspiracies Cryptology and Monsters Mysteries True Stories Eating Healthy Benjamin Fulford Story." 9 Facts About Voodoo. N.p., 17 June 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
Although the thought of being involved in such rituals is scary, I developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the practices that Haitian voodoo participants, if it is appropriate to refer to such people as, engage in. The most impressive bit of information that I will keep with me is to be less judgmental of others; “people who practice voodoo believe in the same God as Christianity, but they also believe in communicating with other spirits, who serve various roles in healing, casting spells, and more” (Boudreaux, 2015a, p. 110). As a golden rule, I know that I should not be judgmental of others anyway, but I am human and am prone to quickly create stereotypes in my mind. I don’t always share those thoughts, but thinking makes me just as guilty as doing or saying. I am thankful for the reminder that all people are children of God, and I should research and learn about different beliefs before I make a judgmental decision, if I make that judgment at
Gervel, David. "Island Magazine Discover the Creole Culture around the World : Louisiana Creole Culture & Voodoo Tradition." Island Magazine Discover the Creole Culture around the World : Louisiana Creole Culture & Voodoo Tradition. N.p., 26 Aug. 2012. 30 Apr. 2014. Web.
At the University of Chicago, Dunham decided to study anthropology with a focus on African and Caribbean ritual dances. Here, she studied under many of the best anthropologists of the time, and in 1935, she was awarded a grant from the Julius Rosenwald Fund to study dance in any way she wished. So, she decided to use this money to travel to the islands of the West Indies and document the ritual dances of the people. She visited such islands as Jamaica, Trinidad, Martinique and Haiti; however, she found a special connection with the people of Haiti and the dances they performed, particularly in their Vodoun rituals. In 1936, Dunham received a bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago, and after gathering her research and materials from her work in the Caribbean, she submitted her thesis, Dances of Haiti: Their Social Organization, Classification, Form, and Function,” to the University of Chicago in 1938.
This Narrative gives one a new perspective on the evils of slavery and the terrible way it affects every one who is involved. The ignorance and physical abuse of the slave is the essential means by which this practice survived for too long. Douglass gives us proof of this in his experiences he endured in overcoming these obstacles and makes us aware of the power that knowledge holds, of both freedom and slavery.
To understand the desperation of wanting to obtain freedom at any cost, it is necessary to take a look into what the conditions and lives were like of slaves. It is no secret that African-American slaves received cruel and inhumane treatment. Although she wrote of the horrific afflictions experienced by slaves, Linda Brent said, “No pen can give adequate description of the all-pervading corruption produced by slavery." The life of a slave was never a satisfactory one, but it all depended on the plantation that one lived on and the mast...
Some slaves were sold and traded more than once, often in a slave market. Families were torn apart, children hysterically cried while t...
Cohen, Daniel. The Encyclopedia of the Strange. New York: Dodd, Meod & Company, Inc., 1985.
African-Inspired religions have also prevailed when they were forced to come to the Americas. Voodoo and Santería are some of the main religions practiced in Latin America.Voodoo is commonly practiced in Haiti and Santería is practiced throughout Cuba and Puerto Rico. Santería times their rituals to those of the Catholic church, such as Easter and Christmas.
Voodoo originate for Africa by a tribe called the Yoruba tribe. Voodoo dolls were never part of voodoo but came in from New Orleans. The tribe was captured and brought to America as slave. Bought, sold, killed, they suffered and were stuck into the Roman Catholic religion. Forced to practice in secret.
Douglass's narrative is, on one surface, intended to show the barbarity and injustice of slavery. However, the underlying argument is that freedom is not simply attained through a physical escape from forced labor, but through a mental liberation from the attitude created by Southern slavery. The slaves of the South were psychologically oppressed by the slaveholders' disrespect for a slave’s family and for their education, as well as by the slaves' acceptance of their own subordination. Additionally, the slaveholders were trapped by a mentality that allowed them to justify behavior towards human beings that would normally not be acceptable. In this manner, both slaveholder and slave are corrupted by slavery.
There is controversy over it is a cult or spiritual folkway and not a real religion. Their rituals increased dehumanization during the Atlantic slave trade. Most people from Haiti were this religion and when they gained their independence and they considered one of their gods to have liberated. Many prayers involve communicating with dead humans and animals and many gods for inspiration or protection. Doing this involves animal sacrifice, creating veves (symbols), and making dolls.
Peterson, J. (2000). Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa: Of Occult Philosophy, Book I. Esoteric Archives. Retrieved from http://www.esotericarchives.com/agrippa/agrippa1.htm
Lehmann A. C. & Myers J. E. Magic, Witchcraft and Religion – An anthropological Study of the Supernatural (Fourth Edition) (Mayfield Publishing Company, 1997)
III. Smithson, Jayne. “Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion.” Class lectures. Anthropology 120. Diablo Valley College, San Ramon 2004.
The Enlightenment and the emerging of modern rationalism have paved the way to a worldview where the suspicion of witchcraft is not needed to explain the mysterious phenomena of this world. This is not the case in Africa. The belief in the existence of witches, evil persons who are able to harm others by using mystical powers, is part of the common cultural knowledge. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop states, “Almost all African societies believe in witchcraft in one form or another. Belief in witchcraft is the traditional way of explaining the ultimate cause of evil, misfortune or death.” The African worldview is holistic. In this perception, things do not just happen. What happens, either good or bad, is traced back to human action, including “ancestors who can intervene by blessing or cursing the living.” Witches, on the other hand, harm because they want to destroy life. Every misfortune or problem can be related to witchcraft, especially when natural explanation is not satisfactory.