Tag: Christianity

For many Black women, growing up meant navigating faith traditions that often painted anything spiritual, natural, or connected to the ‘unknown’ as dangerous or demonic. Pop culture reinforced this, casting Black characters who embraced spirit or magic as villains. But a powerful shift is underway: Black women are beginning to reclaim ancestral spirituality, finding new power in practices once deemed forbidden.

Challenging Stereotypes and Fear

The fear surrounding ancestral practices often stems from rigid religious upbringings and negative portrayals in media. Even positive affirmations of spiritual gifts or connections to Yoruba priests (like Michael B. Jordan’s middle name origin) or Beyoncé’s nods to Hoodoo in “Lemonade” have been met with accusations of being ‘demonic.’ This cultural conditioning creates fear, even as curiosity about these ancestral roots grows.

However, recent cultural moments are cracking open the door to more nuanced conversations. Films like “Sinners” have moved beyond simplistic horror tropes, portraying Hoodoo practitioners positively. This shift is crucial, but it’s guided by cultural workers and diviners who live these traditions.

The Wisdom of Sankofa and Hoodoo

Cultural worker Sara Makeba Daise, a fifth-generation Gullah Geechee diviner, is at the forefront of this reclamation with her forthcoming book, “Sankofa Shadow Work.” Daise, known from the 90s show “Gullah Gullah Island,” builds on her foundation to connect pop culture’s glimpses of ancestry with lived realities. October, being both Gullah Geechee Heritage Month and Hoodoo Heritage Month, highlights the inseparable nature of these traditions.

The Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans, have preserved African traditions, language, and foodways. Hoodoo, or root work, emerged from this landscape of survival, blending African cosmologies and Indigenous knowledge—a practice specific to the African American experience.

Pop Culture as an Entry Point

Pop culture has been signaling this return for years. Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” spurred interest in films like “Daughters of the Dust,” and Tina Knowles’ memoir “Matriarch” affirms the power of ancestral wisdom. Even network dramas are beginning to nod to conjure, bringing these once-whispered practices into the mainstream.

Daise emphasizes that while representation in media like “Sinners” is valuable, it’s an entry point, not the end goal. The film’s positive depiction of Hoodoo as a source of power and protection, rather than horror, is a significant step. The concept of Sankofa, an Akan word meaning ‘go back and get it,’ perfectly encapsulates this movement—returning to the wisdom of the past to move forward.

Finding Wisdom in Everyday Life

For those curious about reconnecting, Daise suggests looking for memory in plain sight. Naturopathic remedies, family healing traditions, and even the nuances of family language can be indicators of ancestral wisdom. She also stresses the importance of embodied presence—slowing down, engaging the senses, and finding grace for oneself and one’s ancestors.

Starting points can be simple: establishing an altar practice, intentionally acknowledging ancestors, and paying attention to dreams and recurring questions. However, Daise also warns against blindly embracing everything, emphasizing the need for discernment, especially given modern surveillance. Reclaiming these practices is about reintegration, honoring humanity, and imagining futures beyond oppressive systems.