Voodoo Queen

The term “voodoo” is not only vague and confusing, but it has a reputation for being frightening. This is partly because voodoo is complex, with the practice and purposes ranging geographically and over time. “Louisiana voodoo” is the appointed name for voodoo practiced in the United States from the 18th century through the early 20th century. While it is no longer a dominant religion, practioners can still be found, but it has more of a mythical legacy that has blended into New Orleans culture today. Important aspects of Louisiana voodoo include rituals, ceremonies, and religious ties. Voodoo was an important part of African American culture in numerous ways, but most importantly voodoo was a significant form of resistance against both racial and gender oppression during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Within the context of slavery, Louisiana voodoo was used as a tool to resist racial oppression, primarily by practicing as a form of religious worship, which in turn provided a platform for black women to hold leadership positions as respected spiritualists, as evidenced by Marie Laveau’s life.

Voodoo has evolved from the time it was first practiced in the United States by both male and female slaves, into a religion synonymous with the “Voodoo Queen”, Marie Laveau and her primarily female followers. Marie was herself a creole, born in the late 1700s to “an old slave woman on her mother’s side, and on the other hand the best French blood of Louisiana coursed in her veins.” Marie’s rise to “queen” coincided with voodoo’s shift towards being known as female dominant and gained the legacy of being primarily practiced by women . She was so famous and trusted that white “celebrities of the day” (lawyers, merchants, and legislat...

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