African Religion and Vodoo
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document in English
humanities/philosophy
research papers
published 22/10/2007
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Summary
For more than two hundred years the Haitian religion commonly referred to as voodoo has continued to intrigue, excite, and scare Americans. In a recent Hollywood blockbuster, “The Skeleton Key” starring Kate Hudson, a small New Orleans family is terrorized by a menacing duo of voodoo practitioners. In fact, “U.S popular culture has long portrayed voodoo as “black magic”…African witchcraft primarily concerned with casting spells, ” and voodoo adherents have been accused of snake worship, cannibalism, and child sacrifice since the late 18th century . However, it is surprising that many Americans would have this belief when the majority of the scientific literature on the subject describes voodoo as “a positive force in the lives of its mainly African-American adherents.” As a result of this significant discrepancy of opinion, it becomes necessary to identify both who benefits from this negative portrayal of voodoo and what those specific benefits are. As a possible solution to these questions, this paper argues that claims-makers, including the media and public officials, have continuously misrepresented the voodoo religion due to a desire to alienate and vilify African Americans in the regions surrounding New Orleans.
Table of Contents
- As stated above, many experts on voodoo, specifically voodoo as it is practiced in New Orleans and surrounding areas, do not agree with the belief that voodoo is an evil religion
- As a result, the current negative depictions of voodoo can be largely attributed to the personal beliefs and feelings of these claims-makers.
- In 1989, the United States Army, under the command of President George Bush, invaded Panama in an effort to stop drug trafficking and establish democracy.
- A further analysis of the Panama invasion reveals that claims-makers were advancing two specific agendas through their negative portrayal of voodoo and its direct association with Noriega.
- The main tool of the claims-makers in the achievement of their goals is the reinforcement of the image of cultural otherness.
- However, what the media and law enforcement officials failed to identify, was that the rituals of the Metamoros cult were in no way associated with any accepted forms of voodoo.
- By exercising their power over public opinion by portraying voodoo as a religion that is evil, claims-makers are labeling practitioners of voodoo as deviants.
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