| |
|
Book
Review |
|
Chireau, Yvonne P. Black Magic: Religion and The African American Conjuring
Tradition (University of California Press, 2003). 231 pp, $34.95.
|
|
|
Yvonne P. Chireau, associate professor of religion at Swarthmore College
and coeditor of Black Zion, has written a wonderful book on conjure,
"the African American tradition of healing and harming that evolved from
African, European, and American elements." The book is a descriptive exploration
of African-American supernatural culture. On her website, Chireau states
that she became a professor of religion because "religion was an unparalleled
vehicle for making sense of just about all aspects of the human experience."
|
1 |
|
Chireau's Black Magic shows how the
African-American religious experience is a testimony of the human experience.
Chireau focuses on the tradition of conjure which had its roots in Africa
and became fully developed in the southern United States during and after
slavery. The conjure tradition changed over time as African-Americans came
into contact with people of other cultures and migrated from the South to
the North. |
2 |
|
African-Americans used conjure and Christianity
to suit their needs. Conjurers created magic by using charms, herbs or other
devices. Magic was an acceptable aspect of African-American religion. Conjuring
was serious business and African-Americans believed that conjure could be
used to help as well as harm. Chireau argues that while magic may seem to
be the opposite of religion, in the world of African-Americans it may in
fact have been its mirror image. Christianity was therefore not the only
morality teaching that African-Americans used on a daily basis. Although
not all African-Americans accepted conjure as a valid practice, many of
them did. |
3 |
|
The most interesting chapter of the book is
titled "We All Believed in Hoodoo" which traces conjure tradition in popular
culture. Chireau gives excellent examples of how elements of conjure can
be seen in the African-American blues and folk literature traditions. Throughout
the book, Chireau refers to the works of several prominent writers who have
written on conjure such as Zora Neale Hurston. |
4 |
|
Chireau analyzes how the conjuring tradition
is worthy of scholarly study. Her work is extremely important because conjure
has often been overlooked and seen negatively within the African-American
community and worldwide. In African-American communities today conjure practice
is becoming more popular and appreciated. |
5 |
|
Chireau's book includes excellent illustrations
of a magic manual, charms, conjurers, and newspaper advertisements. This
book, which is a revised doctoral dissertation, is suitable for graduate
students in a course on American religion or African-American history. Scholars
will also find this book to be a very valuable resource. Chireau's excellent,
exhaustive notes provide the reader with more information and sources for
further study. World history teachers at the undergraduate or high school
level might read this book to prepare for a lecture on religion. |
6 |
| Claudette L. Tolson
Harold Washington College |
