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October 16, 2024

Black Magic: The racist history of voodoo.

• Read Voodoo: The History of a Racial Slur by Danielle N. Boaz

• Explore these photos of Vodou rituals by Haitian photographer Dieu-Nalio Chery.

• Teachers: Explore these resources for teaching about Vodou in your classroom.

• Consider: When did you first learn about “voodoo”? What were you taught?

The word "voodoo," usually brings dark rituals, mysterious dolls, and curses to mind. But the reality of this spiritual practice is far from these Hollywood-inspired images. In today’s newsletter, we’re unpacking the origins and misconceptions of “voodoo” in modern day culture.

Vodou is a syncretic religion originating in Haiti, combining West African Vodun, Roman Catholicism, and indigenous Taíno beliefs. The word "Vodou" comes from the Fon language of West Africa, where it simply means "spirit." As African peoples were forcibly brought to the Americas during the slave trade, their diverse spiritual practices came with them. Vodou became a unifying religion and worldview that recognizes everything is spirit, and that humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world. French colonizers coined the term "vaudoux" (later anglicized to "voodoo") as a catch-all for these unfamiliar rituals. The spelling is important. Referring to Vodou as “voodoo” has a negative connotation.

Vodou rituals provided a sense of community and shared identity among the diverse African ethnic groups brought to Haiti, helping to forge a collective resistance. It played a pivotal role in the Haitian Revolution, serving as a unifying force and source of spiritual strength for the enslaved people fighting for their freedom. The revolution was sparked by a Vodou ceremony at Bois Caïman in 1791, led by a houngan, or male Vodou priest. During this gathering, revolutionaries made a sacred pact, calling upon their ancestors and spirits for protection and power in their struggle against the French colonizers. Vodou leaders served as military and political strategists, using their influence and knowledge of herbs and poisons in warfare. This spiritual foundation not only fueled the initial uprising but continued to inspire and sustain the revolutionaries throughout their long fight for independence, ultimately leading to Haiti becoming the world's first Black republic in 1804.

In the states, racist stereotypes about Vodou were used to stoke fear of Black communities, prevent slave rebellions, and encourage the continued disenfranchisement of Black people and their rights. Newspapers across the country began spinning tales about mysterious "voodoo" practices, demonizing it and other spiritual practices as dangerous, savage, and “devil worship,” even though there is no devil-oriented practices in the religion.

This also became a tool for U.S. imperialism. During the U.S. occupation of Haiti between 1915-1934, Haiti became the backdrop for “voodoo” stories, media outlets spread wild tales of human sacrifice and cannibalism linked to voodoo. Although ceremonious animal sacrifices (of goats, chickens and sheep, not people’s pets) are practiced, this is often misrepresented, too. 

These fabrications weren't just harmful stereotypes. After Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake, some U.S. religious figures claimed the disaster was divine punishment for "voodoo" practices, some Christian aid organizations reportedly withholding supplies from those they identified as Vodou followers. It was also justification to deport Haitian and Cuban immigrants, labeling them as dangerous and dirty. And today, the false narratives that the Trump administration is perpetuating about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, OH are clinging to the same, tired stereotypes to justify their harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Pop culture has accelerated these false narratives. Take "voodoo dolls," for instance. Despite their name, these are not used in Vodou practices, and are more closely aligned to European witchcraft than any African-derived spiritual practice. Yet, thanks to countless movies and TV shows, they've become the poster child for voodoo in the public imagination. For example, Disney has falsely depicted “voodoo” twice – Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Princess and the Frog –and both examples used “voodoo dolls”.

There’s deep cultural, spiritual and political history embedded in the history of Vodou, but unfortunately, much has been lost in our cultural understanding of the practice. Over the past few years, coinciding with the rise of spirituality in America, more Black people are reclaiming their roots and embracing Vodou than ever before. And as tarot cards, astrology and witchcraft become more mainstream, spiritual and ritualistic African practices deserve the same opportunities. By educating ourselves about the true nature of these spiritual traditions, we can work towards a more accurate and respectful understanding.

The vilification of Springfield’s Haitians taps Into a long and troubling history. How misconceptions about Vodou led to the dogpiling against an immigrant community in Ohio. Time >

America’s long history of anti-Haitian racism, explained. The US has often singled out Haitian immigrants. GOP attacks are the latest example. Vox >

The Black religion that’s been maligned for centuries. Vodou has been condemned for much of its history. But some Haitian Americans are reclaiming the narrative through their own journeys with spirituality. The Atlantic >

The value of Voodoo. While it’s viewed as a taboo tradition in popular culture, New Orleans residents who practice the West African religion say it’s more about healing than hexes. Essence >

Explore the timeless world of Vodou, deep within the caves of Haiti. Photographer Troi Anderson captures the religion that has been misunderstood for centuries. Smithsonian Magazine >

'We're reclaiming these traditions': Black women embrace the spiritual realm. There's a revived fascination with witchcraft and the occult. For Black women, mysticism’s appeal is about empowerment and taking up space in a world that often marginalizes them. NBC News >