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Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition

Online ISBN:
9780520940277
Print ISBN:
9780520209879
Publisher:
University of California Press
Book

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition

Published:
2 October 2003
Online ISBN:
9780520940277
Print ISBN:
9780520209879
Publisher:
University of California Press

Abstract

This book looks at the origins, meaning, and uses of Conjure—the African American tradition of healing and harming that evolved from African, European, and American elements—from the slavery period to well into the twentieth century. Illuminating a world that is dimly understood by both scholars and the general public, the author describes Conjure and other related traditions, such as Hoodoo and Rootworking, in a detailed history which presents the voices and experiences of African Americans and shows how magic has informed their culture. Focusing on the relationship between Conjure and Christianity, she shows how these seemingly contradictory traditions have worked together in a complex and complementary fashion to provide spiritual empowerment for African Americans, both slave and free, living in white America. As she explores the role of Conjure for African Americans and looks at the transformations of Conjure over time, the author also rewrites the dichotomy between magic and religion. With its analysis of an often misunderstood tradition, the book helps to explain the myriad dimensions of human spirituality.

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