In 2005 I published a study called Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition (University of California Press) which examined Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootworking, enduring institutions of Africana religion and magic that had been ignored in academic books on black culture. Years later, the renewal of these ancestral practices in local communities, and the corollary rise of healing and social movements thoughout the US, have revived interest in spiritual traditions which were once considered endangered forms of cultural heritage.
This research project fosters public-facing humanities scholarship and collaboration with community members in order to study and document black ancestral healing traditions that have been passed down for hundreds of years, from the period of enslavement into the present day. In partnership with individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders who are invested in safeguarding Africana arts and culture, this project aims to amplify the work of Hoodoo and Conjure workers while educating the public about the history and scope of these traditions, reflecting on their significance to contemporary forms of the arts, activism, and healing.
Yvonne P. Chireau October 2021 Hoodoo Heritage month