Blog Post #22

 Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

By- Ava Daniels

    Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston is a seminal work of folklore and anthropology that illustrates the vibrant culture of African American communities in the rural South. Hurston's examination of voodoo, a difficult and frequently misunderstood religious discipline with origins in West Africa, is one of the book's most intriguing features. Hurston references voodoo as a "way of life" as opposed to a religion. She describes her encounters with voodoo practitioners in Louisiana, as well as the rituals and beliefs they shared with her. 

    Hurston's emphasis on voodoo's relationship to African cultural history is one of the most fascinating features of her writing about the practice. She describes how enslaved Africans brought voodoo to the US and how it developed over time as a means for African Americans to preserve their cultural identity in the face of tyranny. Hurston's writing about voodoo is noteworthy for its sensitivity and respect. She tries to understand the practice on its own terms rather than sensationalizing or caricaturing it. She discusses the function of voodoo in African American communities, including how it provided solace, fortitude, and resistance.

    Hurston writes about voodoo, but she also uses voodoo patterns and imagery in her work on African American culture as a whole. She discusses the significance of hoodoo, a type of folk magic closely related to voodoo, and how African Americans used it to defend themselves from danger and take control of their life. Hurston's excerpt is an example of her strong appreciation for African cultural heritage, and her writing about the ritual continues to make a significant contribution to the study of African American folklore and religion.