I came across a rather misrepresentitive article on who “owns” hoodoo, and what hoodoo is. Read it here: http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodooandreligion.html And here is my reply to the author:
I think some are very confused as to how hoodoo culture works and how it evolves. Perhaps this…
"I do hope the author knows, just to reiterate, Irish were slaves for far longer than the Africans in this country, and treated far worse. I know that statement will cause some controversy, but it is simple truth".Â
">.> <.< >.> Vast majority descendants of enslaved Africans are still treated horribly in North America today. So to say that the Irish are treated worse than Africans is really just, ok … "
Reading is fundamental. You miss the basic observation of context clues. The key term in this statement is “were”. Historically this is 100% true. Please read “White Cargo”, by Don Jordan and Michael Walsh. Also, discrimination continued throughout the 19th and 20th century, and not just here in the US. Take a look at the Irish Potato Famine of the late 1800’s to see how they were treated.
"Among other things, it was the “white” slaves who were here, that built the foundation of the practice."
"Hoodoo is not one tradition but many regional variants. To say that white people built the foundation of Black American Folk Magic is highly suspect if anything. The mingling occurred because cultures existing amoungst one another. But Black American Folk Magic would have still developed on it’s own regardless if the Irish were there or not, just in different flavours, and still can and do. Some people do choose to emphasize the African elements. And depending on region, there is less or more European influences in reality even today." Again, you fail to read, your emotions cloud your bias and you fill in the gaps with your own interpretation. What does the first part of that sentence state? “Among other things”. That means that this influence was, you guessed it, among other things that influenced it. The Irish were already here when the African slave trade began to boom, and they often were housed together, with Native slaves. Look at the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, the Island of Montserrat, where the Irish and African slaves mixed creating a rich culture that still exists today, even retaining their Irish accents! So of course they were sharing and mixing ideas.
“The same goes for most herb lore in hoodoo. It is European. ”
"European in some, but also Native American and African. Many of the herbs in Africa and Europe did not exist right away in North America. The herblore is not “mainly European”. It is Native American, African, and European. It follows parallel uses to plants in Africa, as well as Europe. The hoodoo herblore I have encountered does not have the European elements of planetary associations, and astrological renderings. The powders are classified by planets and such, but by usages. It’s not Venus Powder, but Come to Me Powder for instance." I really wish you would stop being so selective with your reading, and perhaps brush up on your understanding of reading comprehension. “Most of herb lore” does not mean “all of herb lore”, and again, this is a simple fact. We see this in elements like the use of red rose for love, myrtle for marriage, clover for luck, bay for wish and success work, Gods, I could go on and on. Names are irrelevant as far as what you are saying, because the ingredients are the same. But you would have to have a profound understanding of herb lore in Europe, which I can guess you don’t.
“Instead, there is a gross over-generalization of an entire continent of people made up of diverse countries, most with 0 ties to slavery, and they are demonized as “the white man”, a slanderous term meant to be offensive”.
"lol, don’t know what to say to this, many of my followers will probably have a lot of things to say about this though. “The White Man” is a slanderous and offensive term, awwww, lol." Your ignorance is apparent, you have fallen into the trap of misunderstanding, and miseducation. There is nothing I can say to something so arrogant and offensive. Clearly your education on the subject is beyond sub par, and your statements and sentiments are parroting of the misleading information you are fed. Please get some actual facts before you try to pick apart anything I say. Oh, and do please consult with a grade school level Language Arts or English teacher. I’m not sure how you maintain a blog with the reading comprehension skills of a 5 year old.
awww, they put it in quotes and everything on what I wrote. So neat.
k.
(Note: Bolded is what Hellfurian wrote. Then it’s my response in quotes without being bolded. Then it’s their response to my response without quotations or being bolded. But what do I know, I apparently have the reading comprehension of a five year old according to Mr White Man over there. Ohp, but that’s offensive, my bad +++).Â
You know, like honestly just practice Hoodoo, why do you have to write a two page length article justifying your right to do so as someone who is white. Or excuse me, Caucasian. Filling it with this unfortunate sentiment that the Irish are more oppressed than all the Africans and their descendants that have been enslaved, taken, and scattered through forced Diaspora throughout the world.
That’s what made me uneasy. This set up of oppression Olympics as a reasoning. That because in your readings of history, you have come to the conclusion along with certain other historians, that the Irish “are treated worse than the Africans”, thus white people have a right to practice Hoodoo, and Black people can’t say shit against others invading into a tradition that for a large part (note large part depending on what type of “Hoodoo” it is) is theirs.Â
But you practice Greco-Roman Folk Magic is it? So … k.
But then again, what do I know. I’m an Asian with the apparent reading comprehension of a five year old so I mma go to bed and wish you a good day kind person +++.
Spirit Bless +++.
i stopped at “white slaves…built the practice” lmao what kinds of historically inaccurate outsider b.s.
I got a pot to put this garbage in with many oils. -_-
Garbage? Read this: https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/lane_megan_e_200805_ma.pdf
Garbage.
Anything that claims white anything as a foundation of African tradition needs to be put in the trash. If that article make a similar claim, it too can go in the trash.
Also how can you practice a largely black tradition and be a slave apologist?
Fuck out if here.
I will provide you the link again. I know, it is hard to learn new things. I’m not sure why you are being so confrontational. It really exposes your intellect. https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/lane_megan_e_200805_ma.pdf It just so happens that a Black American religious scholar actually agrees. There is also a wealth of sources you can reference. Or, if you would like to continue your ignorant behavior. I am sure you missed the part about the Irish being slaves, but I guess you didn’t actually read a single link or source I provided.
The non practitioner trying to tell me to be intellectual when this is literally an attack on my people and people like me.
Anger does not dispute or negate intelligence.
You’re trying to make white tradition seem like this super important thing to a black tradition and that offensive. Why be nice to those who offend?
Sure Catholicism is involved OBVIOUSLY. But don’t try to act like the credit needs to be given to Irish when talking about hoodoo.
That’s fucking insane.
You don’t know a thing about my knowledge of slavery. Including the ~slavery~ of white people. Your condescending tone only makes me want to throw everything else in the trash. Don’t delegitimize a known black tradition by explaining some white people were enslaved. Should we all shuck and jive and thank the white savior for legitimizing our faith? Is this what you want? Well not from me.
Just… don’t. It is very clear you have absolutely not a clue what you are talking about. You probably haven’t read a single scholarly book on the subject, so I really am not even remotely concerned with what you think. The fact is, European tradition is one of the most heavily influential elements of hoodoo (see Table 3 in “Conjure in African American Society” by Jeffrey E. Anderson. I am done with you. You have empty words and straw men. You argue with emotion and blind ignorance to the subject. So I cannot, in good conscience, continue any kind of intelligent and productive conversation with you.
You sound absolutely ridiculous to countless people on the internet and everyone knows it. Especially those who are practitioners and direct descendants of these traditions. Go contemplate that instead of embarrassing yourself any longer.
Oh, I have no clue where to even start. Your level of uneducation is astounding. You are most likely going by only what you have learned, but you are basing your assumptions on your one side. I would like to enlighten you to the fact that there are more than one side to the tradition. You have absolutely no care to learn any other side, and that is your business. I do, however, and I have. If you take the time to learn and grow in your tradition, you would be in a much better place of understanding. I have provided numerous amazing sources that show that most of our ancestors were doing it, and my family even retains practices to this day! I was surprised to learn that, through my research. I would urge you to reference my sources. It will help you greatly. I apologize for your misunderstanding, and I hope you take the initiative to expand your knowledge through research.
