Historical and Contemporary Hoodoo Root Doctors, Practitioners, Fortune Tellers, and Shop Owners

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:51 pm

Thanks for the link.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:21 pm

Thanks for the post -- that was a surpprise!

Papa Rouj · Unread post by **Papa Rouj** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 4:59 am

That's a really great link!!!

Thanks...

pugpaws · Unread post by **pugpaws** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:47 pm

Pretty interesting article, thanks for posting it.

Apo · Unread post by **Apo** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:58 pm

Is there a story behind the alleged Seven Sisters of New Orleans / Seven Sisters of Algiers?

misterkurtis · Unread post by **misterkurtis** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:46 pm

There is a brief explanation about halfway down this page

http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:39 am

Today in 1834, 175 years ago, slavery was outlawed in most of the British Empire. August 1 is celebrated as Emancipation Day in the Caribbean.

Please light a white candle today for all who suffered under slavery, including those who died on the way to the New World and those who had the strength to survive. Remember the blessings in your life and thank those that have gone before us.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:46 am

Thanks for the post. Around here, in the Bay Area, we celebrate Juneteenth, the 19th of June, as the date that the last enslaved people -- in Galveston, Texas -- were told that they had officially been free for more than two years, but the slave owners had kept the news from them.

YouTube · Unread post by **Miss Bri** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 3:00 pm

Amen to that.
Bri

Unread post by **Sister Jacqueline** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 8:51 pm

Rev Ike was a Christian radio and television minister who took hoodoo into account in his preaching, and even sold an audio-taped sermon called "Jesus Christ the Root Man."

Here is an official announcement:

=====

As you may know, our beloved teacher, Rev. Ike, made
his transition to the Other Side on July 28, 2009.

Rev. Ike always said that when he left this earth, he
did not want a funeral. So instead, you are invited
to a "Celebration of Rev. Ike" in New York City, as we
honor his life and legacy!

Celebration of Rev. Ike
SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2009
11:00 AM
The Palace Cathedral
4140 Broadway (At 175th Street)
Washington Heights
New York City

Confirmed speakers and performers include:
Rev. Al Sharpton, Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, Yolanda Wyns,
Sarah Dash, Kim Burrell, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Pastor
Sal Sabino, Alipio Coco Cabrera, and many others.

For more information and directions you may check
www.revike.org and www.revike.org/map

Tickets are not required for the Celebration, but if
possible, please RSVP by calling 1-800-353-2217 if you
will be attending.

Rev. Mrs. Ike and Bishop Xavier look forward to seeing
you there.

Love, Peace, and Prosperity!

Rev. Ike Ministries

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:22 am

Thanks for posting. That is the end of an era.

cat

Unread post by **benitaw78** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 5:30 am

Hello everyone! I found some interesting history about a Conjurer in Charleston South Carolina named Gullah Jack. Since my dad is from there I'm always researching rootworkers from that area. I don't know if Mrs. Cat already has it in her archives (and if so sorry to repost), but I thought I'd post it up.

Also I'm researching an interesting conjurer named John Domingo from Charleston S.C. From the brief history of him, he seemed like a man with a lot of clout! His nickname was the"Black Constable" and I have a feeling it wasn't because of his skin tone..lol. When I find more info I will post it. Or if anyone can find more about him, let me know.

Anyhow hope you enjoy the story of Gullah jack.

BTW...I copied and pasted this from Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, so it is not protected by exclusive copyright:

Gullah Jack (died July 12, 1822), also known as Couter Jack and sometimes referred to as "Gullah" Jack Pritchard, was a Methodist, an African conjurer, and a slave to Paul Pritchard in Charleston, South Carolina. Gullah Jack is historically known for aiding a free black man named Denmark Vesey in planning a large slave rebellion that would become known as Denmark Vesey's slave conspiracy in 1822. Using his Africa-based influence, Gullah Jack recruited for Vesey's plot African-born slaves as soldiers and provided them with charms as protection against the "buckra" (whites). He is also said to have used his spiritual powers to terrify others into keeping silent about the conspiracy. Historians believe Jack's strong African culture, contrasted against Vesey's preaching, helped attract many of the slaves that joined the revolt.

The Vesey plot involved taking over the state armory to arm rural slaves who would rise up and assist the others in revolt. The slaves would then kill the whites of Charleston, take the city, and finally use the city's ships to escape, supposedly, to Haiti, where slaves had overthrown the white government and now ruled. Eventually, the Vesey plot was leaked by other slaves that were coerced to confession. Consequently, South Carolina authorities hanged Vesey, Gullah Jack, and 34 other leading conspirators.

bluesprof · Unread post by **bluesprof** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:06 pm

Recently University of Maryland archaeologists found new evidence of hoodoo practice surviving in Annapolis as late as 1920 (although as Bri said it still is). The finding is based on an excavation in an 18th century mansion in the Annapolis historic district. Following are several links to online articles about the find.
Very interesting. For those of us living in areas or homes that had/have African American populations in the 1930s or before you might want to think about pursuing your own archaeological digs!

http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/rele ... cleID=1091
http://www.archaeology.org/0005/newsbriefs/hoodoo.html
http://www.physorg.com/news4985.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01564.html
http://sonic.net/yronwode/arcane-archiv ... olis-1.php

Best to you all
Hawk

YouTube · Unread post by **Miss Bri** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:11 pm

Hoodoo lives in Annapolis right now. I lived there for two years starting in 2001 and had many hoodoo related moments, one of which involved a red mojo bag hanging on a tree outside of my dorm

Thanks for the links.
Bri

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:07 pm

If you go here:
http://groups.google.com/groups/search? ... rch+Groups
you will see i first began posting about the anthrax scare and "harmless white powders" back in March of 2003. Here's a sample:

---------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: alt.lucky.w
From: catherine yronwode <c...@luckymojo.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 04:22:39 GMT
Subject: Re: Powder Throwing Arrest.

"Sarah L." wrote:

> Just heard on radio that a man has been arrested in Seattle for
> tossing an orange powder. Dawns on me that what with extremely
> heightened concern about possible terrorism here in the states, those
> of us disposing of ritual remains, blowing and tossing powders, and
> doing other magical jobs, might wisely be mindful of the increased
> chance other folks will not understand if they observe us in action.
> And of the fact that law enforcement will be extra jumpy.
> I don't know yet the full details of this incident, I see The Seattle
> Times is now reporting:
> "In the incident downtown at 4th Avenue and Pike Street, police
> arrested a man after he threw an orange-colored powder at a woman. The
> powder was determined to be harmless and police speculated it was
> orange-flavored fiber laxative Metamucil."
> I don't yet know if the man knew the woman, what his intent was, what
> the powder was. Thought it would be helpful to pass this on, I myself
> had not thought yet of the possibility of my magical work causing
> others to freak out and possibly arrest me. Also anything sent through
> mail is under heightened scrutiny again.
> Sarah Light

The week after the anthrax outbreak, the US Postal Service was
stopping and checking all mail, some with sniffer dogs. I recall
reading in Newsweek that 600 (six hundred) pieces of mail had been
found in ONE WEEK that contained "powders" and not one of those
powders was anthrax. Folks are obviously sending each other powders,
throwing for each other, and so forth -- and, yes, this is a tough
time to get caught doing that because ... well, because.

Last year, one of our mail-order customers was arrested (but later
released) for laying down powders around the courthouse where she was
to be tried on traffic warrants. The sheriff said he understood why
she did it and he did not press charges, although her face was in the
local paper, which was pretty embarrassing for her.

cat yronwode

Lucky Mojo Curio Co. http://www.luckymojo.com/catalogue.html

---------------------------------------------

and here's another sample of the posts i made back then on the subject:

---------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: alt.religion.voodoo, alt.religion.orisha, alt.lucky.w
From: catherine yronwode <c...@luckymojo.com>
Date: Sat, 10 May 2003 04:46:00 GMT
Subject: Re: Rootwork - number of people

Sandra wrote:

> Can anyone give me an educated guess on the number of people in the US
> today who practice/believe in rootwork?

> Thanks very much,
> Sandra

Well, about 35 million people in the US are African American.

I'd say that half of them have family experience with at least some
elements of hoodoo and can give a few examples of spells or tales they
know.

Even if only 1/10 of African Americans in the US are very familiar
with the practices and use them regularly, that would be about 3.5
million people -- a significant number of folks.

That's just my guess, but i think it is supportable. And that's just
the *black* folks who use hoodoo. Others do too, including whites and
Latinos.

It is always of interest to me to see how "invisible" hoodoo is to
mainstream middle-class European Americans, even when popular black
movie stars mention it in movies. I remember a scene in an Eddie
Murphy movie called "Harlem Nights" where Redd Foxx describes a very
common hoodoo spell (interestingly, he seems to be ad libbing the
scene, as was his wont as a comedian). I have asked dozens of white
folks who have seen the movie if they understood the scene and none of
them did. It was just incomprehensible to them. But the spell Redd
Foxx describes in that movie is known to almost all of my African
American customers, even if they have not used it personally.

Ditto for the hoodoo references in popular blues and rock'n'roll
lyrics. White people hear the words but don't realize what is being
said. yet the lyrics in blues songs that refer to "a mojo hand" or "a
black cat bone" are referencing commonplace knowledge in the black
community. See Hoodoo and Blues Lyrics:
http://www.luckymojo.com/blues.html

When the anthrax scare was on, shortly after the 9-11 terror attacks,
there was a period of time when all the mail to Washington DC was
being opened and examined for anthrax spores -- and Newsweek magazine
reported that, for reasons no one in government understood, 600
letters had been opened in one week that contained "powders" that were
not anthrax. These were all in letters addressed to government
officials and judges in Washington. DC. Well, it was obvious to me
what was going on, but not to the folks at Newsweek. Latinos also use
hoodoo-style powders, by the way.

And then, when some archaeologists were digging up a house in
Baltimore to see what material objects of conjure could be found in
the old slave and servant quarters, well, i was contacted by a
Baltimore TV reporter who asked me if anyone still used that stuff.
She thought it was all some sort of long-lost mystery. I gave her the
name of a rootworker to contact -- which she did -- and she called me
back and said, "My God, i had no idea this was still going on!"

Like i said, it's "invisible" to some folks.

cat yronwode

---------------------------------------------

So, yes, that idea has been on my mind and i have spread it out into the world for the past 6 years now.

kittynmoon · Unread post by **kittynmoon** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:04 pm

Wow, lightbulb. Thanks, Cat. That puts a whole new perspective on the past events for me.

My uncle was just held up at the airport a couple of weeks ago because his little travel size bottle of baby powder exploded in his suitcase and when it ended up at the other end it was filled with a white powder that was seeping through. It caused quite a stir and he thought he was going to be arrested. He was held up for more than 7 hours while they tested the baby powder. Apparantly, it had a nice soothing Aloe in it.

Even Harmless White Powder has the power to cause great chaos these days!

Unread post by **Chagrinedgirl** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:20 pm

Kittynmoon, did they say they thought it was anthrax or drugs? Your poor uncle, it'd be funny if I hadn't gone through post 9/11 security a time or two.

kittynmoon · Unread post by **kittynmoon** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:08 am

They were worried about anthrax. The dogs sniffed it right away and gave it a clean sniff check which ruled out drugs. Poor dog if it had turned out to be anthax.

areder · Unread post by **areder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:40 pm

I came upon this site yesterday while searching on the word "hoodoo," occasioned by a Wisconsin Public Radio show on same. I am intrigued by the Jewish aspects of hoodoo. I am Jewish and have felt for a long time that there are deep historical connections between people of Jewish and African descent that have been mostly erased from the Jewish cultural memory but less so the African-American one. Essentially, I believe there is considerable genetic as well as cultural overlap between people of those descents. This site seems like a possible gathering place for people whose studies might have taken them in that direction.

If that's the case, can any of you point me toward more information on this subject?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:05 pm

Hello, Areder!

You have definitely come to the right place -- the information you are looking for is here. Check out the Lucky Mojo webpages available for free study and you will find time and again links between hoodoo and the Jewish community.

Jews and Judaism in Hoodoo by catherine yronwode
http://luckymojo.com/jewsinhoodoo.html

It is good to have you here and I hope you enjoy learning more about hoodoo and how it can benefit you and yours.

Unread post by **Mama Micki** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:15 pm

Areder,

I have a Bible called The Original African Heritage Study Bible which contains commentary on that very subject as well as information on African culture that pertains to various Bible passages. I would highly recommend it.

You might also check out The 8th, 9th, and 10th Books of Moses by Henri Gamache. He also believed that the Jews had African roots.

http://www.luckymojo.com/8th9th10thmoses.html

areder · Unread post by **areder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:39 pm

Thanks, CopperFox. To be honest, I don't think links between hoodoo itself and Judaism will do me much good. I know there's lots of info on the site about that, but I'm looking for historical connections that go back many hundreds or thousands of years.

Here's a sample of what I'm trying to figure out: Many American blacks have the belief, passed down through their families, that they are deeply related in some way to Jews. You don't find the same belief nearly as widespread among Jews, near as I can tell.

There are other links between the peoples, too. For example, once you get past skin color, many Jews and blacks have similar facial features. I think there has to be an answer here in the proximity of northern Africa and the Middle East, trade between ancient peoples in those areas, etc.

There are also proven genetic links to Judaism in a pygmy tribe with claimed Jewish roots. I'm looking for more data along these lines and hoping people in the hoodoo community here can help.

areder · Unread post by **areder** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:40 pm

Thanks, Mama Micki. Great references!

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:32 pm

Check out various black tribes of Jews, recently confirmed to be of Jewish lineage by DNA. Go to google and look up the words Lemba Jews, Ethiopian Jews, Beta Israel, and Falasha Jews. (The word Falasha is NOT a currently acceptable term, but older references will have used it and if they are archived at google books, that's the term you'll have to search for.)

Also look for books like "Hebrewisms of West Africa."

To return from DNA and religion to folk magic -- there are dozens of "Jewish" spells of magic within hoodoo, some very ancient (2nd century Jewish). The presumption is that these spells passed down through the separated populations for millennia.

areder · Unread post by **areder** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:07 pm

Thank you, Catherine. I will follow these trails. As you present it, the hoodoo link may be more fertile than I had imagined.

bluesprof · Unread post by **bluesprof** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:46 pm

My grandmother was a Moorish Jew from the south of France. Although I have not been able to trace her side of the family any further back yet, she was born in 1871 and from my historical research it seems likely that her ancestors had at the very least co-mingled with the Moors who came north out of Africa.

She had many little practices that I remember as a child that once I started studying and working with hoodoo seemed very similar to things I learned from the African American rootworkers that I've studied with in the South, as well as practices I've read about in doing research on hoodoo dating back to the 1700s in America.

While I haven't ever had a DNA test done I am aware that her side of my family carries the genetic condition known as thalassemia, closely related to sickle-cell anemia and also prevalent in peoples of Northern Africa.

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:34 pm

The following link presents a circa 1901 outsider's take on the culture that gave rise to hoodoo; although there are many typographical errors in the document, it is interesting to read. Enjoy!

Michelle

http://faculty.berea.edu/browners/chesn ... tions.html

GoddessMojo · Unread post by **GoddessMojo** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:54 pm

Thanks Michelle, that was a great read!

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:24 pm

Hello, Friends.

Recently I posted a link to an essay by Charles W. Chestnutt; it had a great deal of typographical errors, unfortunately. The following link includes the full text of that essay (w/o the typo's) plus several others by various authors. I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have.

Enjoy,

Michelle

Folklore-Geek-Extraordinaire

http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/proje ... texts.html

MysticRootworker · Unread post by **MysticRootworker** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:12 pm

Michelle
Thanks for the info.

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 3:59 pm

Thanks !

Hoodoo Girl · Unread post by **Hoodoo Girl** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:54 pm

Thank you for the helpful info!

coastwitch · Unread post by **coastwitch** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:45 pm

For a good starter list of historical articles on black folk magic, conjure, hoodoo, and rootwork, please see this page at Southern-Spirits.com --

AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HOODOO SOURCE MATERIAL by Catherine Yronwode
http://www.southern-spirits.com/hoodoo- ... raphy.html

In addition, many short articles of historicl value are archived at the Southern-Spirits.com web site and can be reached via the site's index page:

SOUTHERN SPIRITS: GHOSTLY VOICES FROM DIXIE LAND
http://southern-spirits.com

Unread post by **Lance M Foster** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:19 am

The Great Falls Tribune newspaper has a story on love and magic today and Dr. Kioni and I were quoted in it

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100212/LIFESTYLE/2120326/Mystical++magical++Learn+lore+of+love+spells+and+potions

I promoted LuckyMojo in my interview, but I guess they didn't include it

Lance Foster
G #695

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:20 pm

Lance,

Congratulations to both of you for making the paper. That's great!

cat

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:24 pm

Hello, friends.

You are all most welcome. I especially enjoyed the Chesnutt piece about the "goophered" vineyard. When I locate more relevant public domain links, I will post them to this thread in the future for our continued entertainment and education.

To hear that hoodoo blues sound that Ms. cat so often refers to, go to npr.org and check out their story about Mississippi Delta Blues, featuring articles and music by Tommy Johnson and other hoodoo bluesmen. Update: 2-18-2010, this article is moving to the NRP archives at week's end, but should still be accessible via a site search.
Enjoy, it's good stuff!

Michelle

Also wanted to add: you might want to check the Wikipedia article on Robert Johnson, it's fairly well done. As hoodoo practicioners there is much to be read into what is reported and under-reported, especially the manner in which the crossroads ceremony Johnson purportedly gained his guitar mastery through is rather glossed over as the stuff of myth. I could find no mention of the crossroads ritual in the article for Tommy Johnson, not surprising, since many confuse the two musicians and their respective stories.

Unread post by **Turnsteel** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:06 pm

Hey y'all

A dear friend of mine passed me a link a while ago and I wanted to share it with you all here.

http://qucommunication.com/FACIpdf.pdf

This is Folklore From Adams County Illinois the first book written by famous (in some circles at least) Harry M. Hyatt. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Hyatt's work you can read about it here: http://www.luckymojo.com/hyatt.html

The book is full of wonderful bits of folklore and in the section under "witchcraft" good down home hoodoo!

Now if only his other books were online, lol.

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:18 pm

HD --

Thank you so much for passing on that gem. Now, if only a site like Sacred Texts would/could publish the Hyatt volumes...which, by the way for those unfamiliar with that site -- they do have the full text of The Long Lost Friend up for your reading pleasure.

Veilen dank,

Michelle

Unread post by **ConjureMan** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:56 pm

Ah, good old Sacred Text.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:16 am

Sacred Texts cannot publish books that are protected under copyright law, and neither can archive.org or the Gutenburg Project. End of story.

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:41 am

Thank you very much for that link!

Unread post by **CopperFox** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:15 pm

You're very welcome -- there's another forum thread titled "Link to Hoodoo Related Literature" that presents that same essay, less the typos, plus several others by assorted authors.

Searching out and reading early literature that discusses hoodoo (however erroneous or bigoted) is a great way to expand one's scope of knowledge about the tradition of our craft.

Enjoy,

Michelle

Daytona12 · Unread post by **Daytona12** » Mon May 03, 2010 6:19 pm

What is a Gullah Geech? I have heard they are conjure rootworkers and are they just as effective as regular rootworkers? DO they go more in depth in magical work?

MysticRootworker · Unread post by **MysticRootworker** » Mon May 03, 2010 6:24 pm

I only know that some Gullah live in South Carolina around Charleston. It is a culture of people. I guess that is the right way to say it. I have had the pleasure to meet several when I have visited there. They are artisians with their beautiful sweetgrass baskets. As for Geech, I am interested in hearing more about this.

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Mon May 03, 2010 6:26 pm

Geech is a way to refer to the unique dialect that they speak, and can also be used to refer to someone who is part of the Gullah culture.

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Mon May 03, 2010 7:17 pm

Gullahs are descendants of slaves who came from the area of present day Angola in African. Gullah / Angola, get it?

Geechie, Geeshey, Geeshie, etc. are alternative spells for another name for these folks.

There are people of Geechie decent all over the USA, and a famous female blues singer, Geeshie Wiliey, was born in Mississippi. Angola is the name of a town in Louisiana.

The names Gullah and Geechie do not refer to hoodoo or rootwork per se or anyone having special talents or gifts for magical or spiritual practices. They refer only to the ethnic tribal group of the person's ancestry -- like Italian, or Mongolian, or Sephardic, or Aymara.

I am moving this thread to the Hoodoo in History section of the forum, where it belongs, as it is not about asking for help with someone's situation in life.

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Tue May 18, 2010 12:25 pm

The following news articles were found in the archives of the Beaufort Gazette, Beaufort South Carolina.

"Islanders Discount Root Magic" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/123399

"Cemetery Conceals Grisly Old Mystery" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/123564

"Unusual Occurrence Linked to Voodoo" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/67918

"That Old Black Magic Cast Spell Over Lowcountry"http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/54593

"Quintessentially LowCountry: Sheriff J.E. McTeer" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/125128

"Let the Stories Flow as Beaufort Turns 300" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/131234

"Mysterious Objects Turn Up in Bluffton Cemetary"http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/67995

"Cooking Up a Remedy" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/85814

"Beaufort County's Gardening Past" http://www.lowcountrynewspapers.net/archive/node/50104

Carolina Dean
56 G

Unread post by **ConjureMan** » Tue May 18, 2010 5:26 pm

Oo thanks for this!

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Tue May 18, 2010 6:25 pm

You're welcome. I lived in Beaufort for a year and collected some lore while I was there. Today I was bored and decided to check the archives of the major newspapers from all the places that I lived to see what I could find.

There was a lot of interesting information in those articles such as...

The funeral director being asked to put a live hen in a grave with a murder victim so that the murderer will die with the hen.
A woman meeting a man named William Gregory, who was later identified as one of the many Dr. Buzzards.
The list of herbs and their uses from the slave trade period.

All in all it wasn't a bad way to spend the afternoon.

Dean
56 G

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Tue May 18, 2010 8:28 pm

Thank you for this wonderful treasure trove!

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Tue May 18, 2010 9:13 pm

That's a great post! Thank you!

I have combed the internet for the better part of a year and have quite a nice collection of links to papers, articles, etc on hoodoo...

These are great to read!

-joseph

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Tue May 18, 2010 11:31 pm

Hey Cat, while you're on this thread...I was reading the coursebook for the Hoodoo Course a few weeks ago and saw that you collect fliers by readers. I have one that is about 7 or 8 years old that I found on my car after getting out of work one day. I scanned it and tried to send to you at cat@luckymojo.com. When I sent it I got back a loooong form letter, I was just wondering if you got the flier?

Carolina Dean

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Wed May 19, 2010 2:43 pm

Here's some more articles I found online using the Google News Archives. The wind is getting up pretty bad here this afternoon and the power is flickering. I wanted to keep searching but was afraid I would lose everything I found so far is the power goes out. I'll post more as I find them.

Ok I'm only allowed 10 URLs per post. So I'll put half in this post and the rest in the comments section.

Carolina Dean

From the Archives of the Herald-Journal, Spartanburg South Carolina October 1992

Family May Go to Jail Together
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xg ... %2C2755289

This article is interesting in that the family is accused of hiring a man called Doc Buzzard, who later turned out to be an uncover Federal Agent, to cast spells for them and kill witnesses.

From the Archives of the St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater Florida, February 1935

Negro is Slain by Clear Water Police Officer: "Doctor" Buzzard Shot to Death During Scuffle in Squad Car
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ro ... %2C5593543

From the Archives of the Eugene Register, Virginia August 1989

Doctor Buzzard has the Voodoo Solution
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gm ... 31%2C52358

This seems to be a human-interest story featuring Ernest Bratton, who identifies himself as Doctor Buzzard. Mr. Bratton is a native of Gaffney, South Carolina and claims he was born with magical powers. There is a description of his tools and work area. This article also has a photograph of Mr. Bratton with his cat and some of his tools.

Here's the same story from a different newspaper. This article has a better photo graph of Mr. Bratton and the interview is slightly longer.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rs ... %2C2260003

From The Afro-American, Dec 1941

Make Your Own Lucky Hands
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R6 ... 2C20983124

This entire page has advertisements for different books, incense, readings, and even Rootworking services! However this specific advertisement is for a book called The Exposure of the Sorcerers and purports to teach you the Aunt Caroline Dye method of making lucky hands (mojo bags).

Here's the same advertisement from a different issue. These are clearer and easier to read.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Md ... %2C2275296

From the Rock-Hill Herald, Rock Hill South Carolina Jun 1982

Death Penalty Sought
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Nj ... %2C5983005

This story is about the sentencing of two men convicted of killing a Root Doctor, among other people. The last paragraph described the victim's home (altar, sign of animal sacrifice) and the contents of his pockets at the time of death (a fire-god figurine, and a mojo bag.)

From the Miami News, Miami Florida November 1971

Psychiatrist Talks Here on Witchcraft
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zc ... %2C3006029

This is a very interesting article about a child psychiatrist working in the Lowcountry (Southern South Carolina) who uses his patients belief in rootwork to help "cure" them. There is also mention of Dr. Buzzard, Dr. Crow, and Dr. Hawk.

From the Free Lance-Star, New York Sept 1952

Voodoo Doll Helps End Triangle Involving Wife, Mate, and Pal
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IW ... %2C2657673

I can't tell if this is supposed to be a true story or some kind of serial. The story tells how a man learned to use a voodoo doll against his rival from his black-magic believing made Mayola, who hails from Haiti.

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Wed May 19, 2010 2:45 pm

Here's the rest

From the Victoria Advocate, April 1957

Voodoo Doll Aimed to Quell Nagging Male
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OC ... %2C6700584

A man's wife makes a voodoo doll of him to keep him from nagging her.

From the Lodi News Sentinel, April 1950

Successful Writer Turns Housemaid
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iu ... %2C2437728

A story about Zora Neale Hurston briefly giving up writing to work as a maid.

From the Afro-American, November 1932

Graveyard Dirt Foils Bloodhounds
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BO ... %2C2667264

An account of how police bloodhounds were unable to track a man after a visit to his father's grave.

Unread post by **Devi Spring** » Wed May 19, 2010 3:13 pm

Very cool! Thanks so much for posting these.

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Wed May 19, 2010 3:43 pm

Here's some more:

From the Evening Independent, Sept 1933

"Colored" Conjure Student Tries it On Judge But it Doesn't Work
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4- ... %2C1519786

This story tells of a young man who lays a trick in a graveyard on the judge, jury, and solicitor in his trespassing trial.

From the Free Lance-Star December 1932

Conjure Man and Skunk Oil Really Exist in Far South
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uK ... %2C5130347

An article about African-American Beliefs in the 1930's South.

From the Polk County News, June 1926

A Conjure Doctor, A Black Cat, and a Black Man
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kx ... %2C2752976

An account of a "witch-doctor" practicing conjure on the plantation despite attempts to get him to stop.

From the Afro-American, May 1930

Arrest Conjure Man in Farm Mystery
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kq ... 5%2C689266

A self-styled 'praying doctor' is arrested for providing a man with poison to kill his wife.

From the Sunday Morning Star, December 1929

Tried to Conjure Court with Powders
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ds ... %2C2927534

An account of a man getting caught laying powders on a judge's desk before his trial.

From the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 1954

Minus Magic Shirt, Conjure Man Slain
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UJ ... %2C1778174

A woman kills her tenant who she believes put a hex on her.

From the Milwaukee Journal, Jan 1959

New York Drugstore, 107 Years Old, Sells Concur Dust and Love Potions
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qP ... %2C3471199

Seems to be a Human Interest Story about a visit to a drug store that sells conjure supplies.

From the Lawrence Journal-World, June 1959

More to Witch-Doctoring than Hocus Pocus
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DD ... %2C5501516

A scientific look at the use of herbs used in rootwork.

Unread post by **carolina_dean** » Wed May 19, 2010 4:52 pm

From the Milwaukee Journal, Sept. 1949

Voodoo is on its Last Legs
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SD ... %2C4183304

A story about the waning influence of Voodoo in New Orleans.

From Wired News, October 2002

Finagling the Citizenship Lottery
http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2002/10/55943

Describes efforts by immigrants using magic to attempt to gain citizenship status in the United States. There is a description of a mojo and burning incense.

Unread post by **ConjureMan** » Wed May 19, 2010 10:31 pm

This is awesome. I love readin gthem.

Katie_Did1111 · Unread post by **Katie_Did1111** » Wed May 19, 2010 10:46 pm

Oooooooh. . . I'm loving all of these, but thanks especially for the Zora Neale Hurston piece! <3

~Katie

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:22 am

Thank you for sharing these links...some I have, but some I did not... They were all great to read!

Thank you thank you!!!

-Joseph