Moses, Man of the Mountain⛰
Moses is considered an important biblical figure in African-American culture. He is seen as a powerful conjurer “doing Gods work”. In fact the African-American figure, John Domingo, wore a serpent ring where he was thought to hold his power. Just like Moses and the wonders he did with his staff. *i.e. turning his staff into a serpent.*
During slavery, taught that their treatment was a punishment by God, the story of Moses influenced our enslaved ancestors belief that God could be on our side in the fight for freedom. Moses story also strengthened religious confidence in hoodoo, an amalgamation of their own native practices, calling it “Gods work”. Hoodoo and the word of God freed our ancestors from their bondage, but White fear of Black liberation made us suppress our practices by recreating ill confidence in Gods acceptance of it. This led to leaving the will to practice behind (better yet, practicing in secret.)
The story of Moses had a big part in our liberation. Harriet Tubman even now being known as “Mother Moses”, the Moses of her people.
To get a better understanding read Zora Neale Hurstons “Moses, Man of the Mountain” written in the perspective of the original African-American beliefs.
