February is Black History Month and Edison Public Library cardholders are invited to celebrate the legacy of America’s founding Black women at a virtual program led by author and feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart.
On Thursday, February 12 at 2:00pm, join Stewart for a discussion centered around her book, The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic, and delve deep into the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery; the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction; and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era.
Learn how these women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries and passed down their traditions.
From the moment enslaved Africans first arrived on these shores, conjure was heavily regulated and even outlawed. Now, Stewart uncovers new contours of American history, sourcing letters from the enslaved, dispatches from the lore of Oshun and other African mystics.
The Conjuring of America is a love letter to the real magic Black women used—their herbs, food, textiles, song, and dance—to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope. Register today to join the conversation and submit questions to Stewart, who is also the author of The Politics of Black Joy and the recipient of the 2021 Michael Beaney Prize.
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