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Text and photos
by Adrian Nicholas McGrath
ParaScope Correspondent
Ambodhran@aol.com
There's much more to Voodoo than the stereotypical witch doctor fiendishly jabbing needles into dolls, and those who dreaded the wrath of a particular woman in old New Orleans would readily attest to that. The most prominent figure in the true history of Voodoo in America was Marie Laveau, the legendary "Voodoo Queen" feared and revered throughout 19th century Louisiana. The ancient rites of Voodoo -- along with a heaping helping of down-to-earth shrewdness -- propelled her to a profound level of influence among the common folk and the aristocratic gentry alike, a feat nearly unimaginable for a black woman in the oppressive days of slavery.
New Orleans native Adrian Nicholas McGrath profiles the remarkable Madam Leveau, and also traces the historical migration of Voodoo from Africa to New Orleans via the Caribbean, explaining along the way everything you ever wanted to know about mojo, juju, hoodoo, gris-gris bags and zombies, but were afraid to ask.
© Copyright 1998 ParaScope, Inc.
Voodoo Queen Index:
1.
All Hail the Queen
2.
Voodoo Rising
3.
Congo Square
4.
Bosswoman of New Orleans
5.
Voodoo Doctors and Ceremonies
6.
Gris-Gris
7.
Zombies and Werewolves
8.
Marie Laveau's Legacy
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