Mojo Workin _Hazzard Donald

Mojo Workin' by Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald’s Mojo Workin’ offers a groundbreaking analysis of Hoodoo, reframing it as a distinct African American spiritual system rooted in resistance, survival, and cultural continuity. Below are its core principles, synthesized from the text and scholarly reviews:

1. Hoodoo’s African Origins and Regional Development

Hazzard-Donald argues that Hoodoo emerged from three distinct regional clusters in the U.S. South during slavery... Unlike Voodoo or Santería, which syncretized with Catholicism, Hoodoo blended African practices with Protestant Christianity, reflecting the religious landscape of enslaved communities.

2. Material Culture and Ritual Practices

Central to Hoodoo is its material culture, such as the High John the Conquer root... Divination practices (e.g., the "walking boy") and herbal medicine further underscore its role in addressing physical and spiritual needs.

Who is Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald?

Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald (correct spelling), the author of Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System (2013). Here’s a concise overview:

Key Contributions

1. Reclaiming Hoodoo:
- Argued against framing Hoodoo as “magic”...
- Highlighted its role in Black resistance during slavery and Jim Crow.

Role of Hoodoo During Black Resistance and Jim Crow

Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald’s Mojo Workin’ emphasizes Hoodoo’s critical role as a tool of resistance, survival, and empowerment...

1. During Slavery: Spiritual Warfare and Subversion

- Empowerment Against Dehumanization:
Hoodoo provided enslaved Africans with a sense of spiritual autonomy...
- Covert Resistance:
Some rootworkers used herbal knowledge to poison enslavers...

Full Details of Juju: A Social History and Ethnography of an African Religion

Book Title: Juju: A Social History and Ethnography of an African Religion (2021)
Editors: Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald and Dr. John L. Jackson, Jr.
Publisher: Temple University Press

Key Themes and Structure

1. Historical Roots:
- Traces Juju’s origins in West Africa...
- Explores how Juju survived the transatlantic slave trade...

Details of the Chapter "Juju and Hoodoo’s Sacred Landscapes"

Juju... Below is a reconstructed breakdown:

Primary Argument

Hazzard-Donald posits that both Juju... traditions are deeply tied to sacred geographies...

Key Themes and Analysis

1. Defining Sacred Landscapes:
- Juju: In West Africa...
- Hoodoo: Sacred landscapes in the U.S. South...