Hoodoo, not to be confused with Voodoo, is a practice that elicits a great deal of passion from its practitioners and intrigue and fear from outsiders looking in on the practice, but it has often been very difficult to define because its practices are often misrepresented and negatively stereotyped by society. Hoodoo’s origins can be traced back to West Africa before the time of the slave trade. While there is a strong debate about whether or not Hoodoo can and should be labeled as a religion, proponents on both sides of the debate can agree on the fact that many elements and rituals of Hoodoo appear in a number of contemporary, mainstream religions. Hoodoo has always been a steadfast pillar in the lives of many African Americans living in the United States; however, as Katrina Hazzard-Donald notes, as society continues to evolve and progress, Hoodoo, “the indigenous, herbal, healing, and supernatural-controlling spiritual folk tradition,” is being viewed less with reverence and belief and more as a superstition or macabre fascination (4). This text centers around the tenet that Hoodoo is somewhat fluid in the sense that it is a practice that can adapt and change to meet the needs of the individuals who practice these religions in a world of ever-changing sociological and economic environments.
While Hazzard-Donald’s purpose is straightforward, “to present a new look at Hoodoo development and a reinterpretative glimpse at contemporary as well as preexisting Hoodoo practice,” her task is by no means a simple one (8). Society’s misunderstandings and apprehension towards the subject have made Hoodoo and similar subjects almost taboo topics of discussion. However, the author has done an excellent job of creating a primer of sorts to help both scholars and students understand and appreciate the evolution of African American Hoodoo and the historical and contemporary influences this religion has had on individuals and society. Her work does not simply rehash the topics previously covered by scholars before her; she is able to push the boundaries and create a text that offers an enlightening and groundbreaking sociological and anthropological examination of the evolution of African American Hoodoo.
The text is broken down into seven main chapters and includes a prescript and postscript, both written by the author. The text also includes a glossary, a notes section, a bibliography, and an index. The author’s prescript sets the tone for the rest of her work by laying out her purpose and her beliefs, identifying the scope and limitations of her research, and identifying the author’s assumptions in regards to the topic of the text. The prescript also presents a definition, explanation, and discussion of key terms, such as Hoodoo, black belt Hoodoo, and marketeered Hoodoo, which are essential to understanding the discussions presented in later chapters. While the prescript contains a great deal of valuable information, at times it lacks continuity, and it becomes slightly difficult to understand how one topic connects to the next topic.
Each of the seven main chapters covers an important period or aspect on the continuum of the evolution of African American Hoodoo. The chronology starts with a detailed description of traditional religion in West Africa in the early 1800s and ends with an examination of black belt Hoodoo in post-World War II America. The seven main chapters present thorough, objective commentary on the sociological, anthropological, and religious factors that helped to shape and manipulate Hoodoo and its practitioners in America. The inclusion of a glossary makes this text even easier to use because the reader has easy access to unfamiliar terms.
Hazzard-Donald set out to demonstrate the need to include African American Hoodoo in the study of African American religion in the New World. The research she presents in her work clearly validates the belief that there is a strong connection between African American Hoodoo and African American religion; therefore, in order to truly study the origin and development of African American religions in the New World, scholars need to include Hoodoo in their studies. This text presents an engaging and insightful examination of the evolution of African American Hoodoo. The author’s shrewd analysis of the current state of research on African American Hoodoo and her thought-provoking, innovative new insights open up areas of this field that are ripe for further scholarly exploration. This text successfully dispels the misrepresentations and negative stereotypes Hoodoo has endured throughout history, and further establishes the importance of African American Hoodoo as a field of study that is rich in cultural significance. The author provides a great deal of research and analysis that is sure to aid scholars, students, and enthusiasts.
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[Review length: 767 words • Review posted on October 3, 2013]