In addition to her literary work, zora neale hurston studied african diasporic religion and sought to write the proper voodoo book. Santeria s roots are in africa, in the yoruba religions native to nigeria. Reas maxnotes for zora neale hurstons mules and men maxnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Zora neale hurston and the creation of an africanamerican. Santeria is practiced throughout latin america and in the united states, but cuba is its birthplace. Maxnotes is also an invaluable resource for english teachers who are teaching the original work and need a refresher. The beliefs and rituals of a growing religion in america 9780802849731 by miguel a. Abrahamsmules and men is the first great collection of black americas folk world. Zora neale hurstons book tell my horse 1937 and lydia cabreras. Each section of the work is individually summarized and includes study questions and answers. Santeria is a religion wherein the devil receives worship from people. Most people forget that zora neale hurston was an anthropologist who completed extensive fieldwork.
Historically, culturally and liturgically speaking, santeria has always been a religion that honors women and upholds their importance in society. In many respects, mules and men could be considered hurstons masterwork. As she continues to state in the introduction to mules and men. Her books were largely resposible for the favorable decision made by the supreme court declaring santeria a valid religion, protected by the american constiturion. Quoting an essay on the lukumi tradition by afolabi. The orishas are actual entities, demonic spirits, but those involved in santeria do not always know this. Almost certainly, there would have been no their eyes were watching god without the process of growth and maturation that resulted first from mules and men. While one may utilize the powerful magic associated with the religion without being an actual member of the religion joining the religion is another matter. Jan 07, 2008 these are sold in stores called botanicas, where other things used by santeros and espiritistas are sold. This study guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of mules and men.
Africana religions reading list situated knowledge. Mules and men is a treasury of black americas folklore as collected by a famous storyteller and anthropologist who grew up hearing the songs and sermons, sayings and tall tales that have formed an oral history of the south since the time of slavery. Simply the most exciting book on black folklore and culture i have. These religious practices were held in secret away from white slave owners.
Mules and men harper perennial modern classics ebook. I think its also an important project to look at how black christians from different ethnonational backgrounds navigate, translate, practice, and understand christianity. Excavating the spiritual genius of black people harvard divinity. Santeria is a religion governed by strict rules of behavior, but characterized by wide latitude of interpretation due to the individualistic nature of worship clark, 2007. Brought into the united states and latin american countries through the slave trade, it is now practiced in cuba and the latin american countries and has over 20,000 followers in the united states.
Of this paper is to explore the santeria religion in terms of its development. The beliefs and rituals of a growing religion in america. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional yoruba religion of west africa and the roman catholic form of christianity. Santeria means way or honor of the saints and is mostly a spanish word, while voodoo has an african etymology and means moral fiber. Christioconjure in voodoo dreams, baby of the family, the salt. Dec 04, 2018 when the term afrocaribbean religion comes up, people are likely to think of things like santeria or voodoo, she explains. Many santeros and santeras know differently, however. This is one reason anthropologists and folklorists sometimes refer to colonial cuba as a melting pot. No one faq can answer every question regarding a religion and its history, rituals, and traditions but hopefully this will be a starting point for demystifying a beautiful faith that has been misunderstood by many outsiders for several hundred years. Books hoodoo supplies folk magic new age conjure shop. Hoodoo is a mixture of various african religious practices created by enslaved africans in the new world. The resulting religion is known as santeria, a blend of primitive magic and catholicism now practiced by an estimated five million americans. This audio tape recorded by ruby dee of zora neale hurstons mules and men absolutely makes the case for audio books because of dees extraordinary performance.
Santeria includes the worship of the orisha literally head guardians, and religious beliefs of the yoruba and bantu people in southern nigeria, senegal and guinea coast. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an african religions survival in the new world. Brought to cuba as slaves, the yoruba people of west africa preserved their religions heritage by disguising their gods as catholic saints and worshipping them in secret. Returning to her hometown of eatonville, florida, to gather material, zora neale hurston recalls a hilarious night with a pinch of everything. A collection titled mules and men 1935 by african american author zora neale hurston may serve as a counterpoint to harriss uncle remus collection in its attempt to share the stories from the perspective of an insider read more dust tracks on a road in dust tracks on a road basis of her wellreceived book mules and men 1935. Mules and men by zora neale hurston, african narratives of orishas, spirits and other deities stories from w.
The african religions had to undergo severe transformations in order to survive. It is a religion of trance, mystery, posse ssion, blood and sex. Returning to her hometown of eatonville, florida, to gather material, zora neale hurston recalls a hilarious night with a pinch of everything social mixed with the storytelling. In the 1930s, zora neale hurston returned to her home town of eatonville, florida, to collect and record the oral histories, songs, and sermons, many dating. The orishas, proverbs, sacrifices, and prohibitions of cuban santeria ochani lele spiritual cleansing draja mickaharic the book of psalms. There is no central authority in control of the movement, which comprises adherents known as creyente and initiates known as santeros and santeras. Racial and sexual assemblages of transnational religion new york. As the traditional belief systems of the western world cease to provide a direct emotional involvement with the mysteries of life, more and more people are turning to the throbbing of the santeria drums. Zora neale hurston january 7, 1891 january 28, 1960 was an american author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. Returning to her hometown of eatonville, florida, to gather material, zora neale hurston recalls. Mules and men maxnotes literature guides and millions of other books are. As santeria is a rather closed practice,mainly due to the bad press it receives, it requires and introduction into the religion by a practicing member who has actually made the saint or is. Sep 02, 2005 the study of yoruba orisha religion and the various diasporic permutations of it has become a popular yet complex field to navigate. Zora neale hurston, haiti, and their eyes were watching god.
The beliefs and rituals of a growing religion in america, miguel a. The name by which the religion is now most commonly known, santeria, is a pejorative term first applied by the spanish to the religious practices of the peasantry. Aug 23, 2004 foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview, history and cultural influence of the afrocuban religion. This was the first time an animal welfare organization had publicly approached a santeria churches religion and rights to animal sacrifice and degrees of practice. Blending informed study as an anthropologist and personal experience as a santerian initiate, author migene gonzalezwippler uncovers santeria s spellbinding elements. Zora neale hurstons mules and men reveals that african americans were able to revise. No one could write this book better than migene gonzalezwippler.
From jacketthe sanctified churchis a collection of hurstons groundbreaking essays on afroamerican folklore, legend, popular mythology, and, in particular, the unique spiritual character of the southern black christian church. Voodoo and life in haiti and jamaica ebook written by zora neale hurston. The voodoo hoodoo spellbook is a rich compendium of more than 300 authentic voodoo and hoodoo recipes, rituals, and spells for love, justice, gambling luck, prosperity, health, and success. As hurston begins mules and men, she explains the way black folk protect their knowledge from curious white men by using featherbed resistance mules and men, 2. In the study of the santeria religion, we find a reflection of the struggle of afrocuban.
In all of her works, anthropology plays an essential role. Mules and men harper perennial modern classics kindle. Babou, fighting the great jihad barrett, soul force brown, mama lola chevannes, rastafari chidester, savage systems chireau, black magic du bois, the souls of black folk evanspritchard, witchcraft, oracles and magic among azande hucks, yoruba traditions and african american nationalism husrton, mules and men jahn, muntu matory, black atlantic religion mbiti, african. Returning to her hometown of eatonville, florida, to gather material, zora neale hurston. It is so great that this is the third time i am buying it. For many of the members of santeria, they believe their practices are merely an extension of their catholic religion. There is no unified body of written work we can refer to as the sacred text of the lucumi religion because it was transmitted from generation to generation by priests and priestesses as part of an oral tradition. Returning to her hometown of eatonville, florida, to gather material, zora neale hurston recalls a hilarious night with a pinch of. In the 1930s, zora neale hurston returned to her home town of eatonville, florida, to collect and record the oral histories, songs, and sermons, many dating back to slavery times, that she remembered hearing as a child. The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an africa religion s survival in the new world. It is a syncretistic religion that combines its belief in the orishasthe gods of the yoruba and bantu pantheons of southwest nigerian originwith the catholic saints. She portrayed racial struggles in the early1900s american south and published research on hoodoo. Although, many of its practitioners are christian who often use the bible in.
Elements of santeria can be found in some popular latin music and literature. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and essays. It is a seamless melding of autobiography and biography, fact and fiction, and the individual and the communal. In this book, hurston first effected a genuine reconciliation between herself and her past, which is to say between herself as a growing individual with literary ambitions on the one hand. Santeria, a religion whose origins can be traced back to the yoruban tribes of west africa. The most popular of her four novels is their eyes were watching god, published in 1937. Indeed, when reading the book, it is difficult to determine where the folks end and the talesthose that are, in. In chapter one, hurston notes that she could spend much more time gathering the stories and folklore of the black. Mules and men harper perennial modern classics kindle edition. A vodou priestess in brooklyn comparative studies in religion and society by. Santeria practices and beliefs have african origins and is still practiced in a more subtle form in many countries where africans were brought to the new world.
Excavating the spiritual genius of black people harvard. Now you can discover the inner secrets of this religion in santeria. The religion is an informative and insightful examination of an african religion s survival in the new world. In this book, you will find more of the true secrets of santeria revealed than ever before. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, maxnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work.
It was brought to the new world by the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who were hunted down and sold as slaves. Santeria, a syncretistic caribbean religion beliefs and practices. Brought to cuba as slaves, the yoruba people of west africa preserved their religions heritage by disguising their gods as catholic saints and worshipping them in. Mules and men harper perennial modern classics kindle edition by. Zora neale hurston was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist.
Cultural psychologist and root worker denise alvarado, who grew up in new orleans, draws from a lifetime of. In new york city, botanicas are well advertised in the telephone book, having far more listings in the yellow pages than other religious stores. In mules and men, some of the rich cultural heritage of black america is revealed and preserved. In mules and men 1935, hurston wrote about her experiences with several conjure doctors in new orleans during the 1920s and 30s, illustrating how voodoo.
It originally comes from africa and more precisely the yoruba people of what is now present day nigeria. Basic beliefs of the religion of santeria in central america. Santeria is based on yoruba beliefs, while voodoo is based on fon and ewe beliefs. In mules and men, she researches marie laveau, the legendary. Unfortunately, this religion attracts a great deal of fanatics and people of the lower classes, many of them with an ax to grind. Santeria believes in seven powers or spirits assigned to protect people. Our zora neale hurstons mules and men maxnotes study guide is a handy resource when preparing for exams or doing homework, and it makes a great companion to the original work. When the term afrocaribbean religion comes up, people are likely to think of things like santeria or.
The main difference between santeria and voodoo is the spanish influence of santeria and the french influence of voodoo. Foreword magazine book of the year awards, finalist, religion 2004 choice magazine, outstanding academic book 2005 south florida sunsentinel the author, who grew up in the santeria faith, provides insight into the myths, rituals, worldview, history and cultural influence of the afrocuban religion. Santeria the way of the saints is the religion s popular name. I seriously doubt that hurston could do better herself. Some of the most important and pivotal figures in the history of santeria have been women. I was drawn more to the anthropological aspect of the book, more so than the literary merits which it has lots of. Voodoo and the work of zora neale hurston jstor daily. African based spiritual systems of santeria and voodoo. When i first moved into a cuban american community, i searched in vain for a book that would explain the afrocuban religion that was practiced all around me. Thats right, all we need is the price of a paperback book to sustain a nonprofit website the whole world depends on. When the term afrocaribbean religion comes up, people are likely to think of things like santeria or voodoo, she explains.
Women shaped the way our religion evolved in the new world. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading santeria. Mules and men should be read right along side joseph campbells work. Many people are attracted by the mysticism and exotic aura of santeria.
Hoodoo, also known as lowcountry voodoo in the gullah south carolina lowcountry, is a traditional african american spirituality that developed from a number of west african spiritual traditions and beliefs. Recently, santeria has experienced a surge in interest among many cultural groups. In reality santeria is an old world religion rich in symbolism that contains a great deal of knowledge, power and beauty. Of water and spirit audiobook by malidoma patrice some. An african religion brought to the americas by slaves, it was disguised within a facade of catholicism. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read tell my horse. In a profound moment in mules and men, samuel thompson, the. The churchs high priest and its followers retaliated to arms pressure by responding publicly on airwaves, radio and tv shows in the efforts to denounce arms credibility. Mules and men is a treasury of black americas folklore as collected by a famous storyteller and anthropologist who grew up hearing the. In 1935, hurston continued her studies at columbia university, working on a phd in anthropology while also becoming a fixture in harlem and the harlem renaissance art scene. Finding soul on the path of orisa audiobook by tobe.
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