Episode of Spirits, Stories, and Survival

Kenijah Ross Dr. Harris English 2017 April 22 2026 In this episode of Spirits, Stories, and Survival I dissect the layers of the misinterpretations and stereotypes surrounding hoodoo and voodoo, two practices widely vilified by the media and uses fear mongering tactics. The episode centers on the incredible work of Zora Neale Hurston, a black american writer that went to New Orleans for four months and was initiated into the practice of hoodoo. She is a big reason why this oral history has some truth circulating it. There are differences between the closed patterns of voodoo and the open system of hoodoo. Hoodoo is often characterized as being scary but it’s actually a very sophisticated and emotional practice that requires true connection to understand. I adore the dedication that Zora Neale Hurston gave to the cause. She is a true trailblazer of this in my opinion. She aimed to protect the people who practice this religion by giving the public real people and real scenarios. She talked about people like rachel rae, who was a woman abused by the system and had to turn to hoodoo, kitty brown, who she studied under during her four month stay, and luke turner, who initiated her into the practice. By documenting everything down to the specific use of salts and candles to the authentic dialect she used in her writing. Zora Neale Hurston has truly proved herself in her method for obtaining her information. She has a contribution that will be remember forever. She proved that the most academic thing she could do was learn to be super humble. She completely embedded herself into their tradition. She gave a perspective that would of otherwise been forgotten because of nobody’s actual desire to sit with and learn about something they could not understand. She opened the door to people being more willing to learn about the not so scary practice and stop judging people who practice it before having a clue. Although misinformation will always be spread this was a huge step in the right direction for society and being more accepting of things we may not understand. Zora Neale Hurston will always be apart of the is conversation.

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