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Voodoo: An African American Religion
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2025
A very interesting read. While it lacks a lot of details, which the author himself attests to the lack of scholarly and historical information available, it still provides a great amount of detail and analysis.
I especially commend the author for the use of comparative tables to help illustrate his points about the similarities, and dissimilarities, between the Haitian Voudu and the Lower Mississippi Valley religion. With his central point to draw that the two religions were similar, yet distinct religions, I believe that his work accomplished this thoroughly well.
I also appreciate the author’s analyses of historical works, presenting the information as it is available, while also acknowledging where these sources should be doubted with reasonable criticism.
Certainly not a fully comprehensive detailing of the religion, a very great overview and description nonetheless. I also enjoyed, having recently read other Southern Louisiana cultural and historical works, how often the Lower Mississippi Voodoo religion has parallels and mirrors to other cultural traditions and practices of contemporary Louisiana cultures. In essence, this book, I believe, provides a great resource for drawing these parallels with the limited-documented African Créole cultures of historical Louisiana.
I especially commend the author for the use of comparative tables to help illustrate his points about the similarities, and dissimilarities, between the Haitian Voudu and the Lower Mississippi Valley religion. With his central point to draw that the two religions were similar, yet distinct religions, I believe that his work accomplished this thoroughly well.
I also appreciate the author’s analyses of historical works, presenting the information as it is available, while also acknowledging where these sources should be doubted with reasonable criticism.
Certainly not a fully comprehensive detailing of the religion, a very great overview and description nonetheless. I also enjoyed, having recently read other Southern Louisiana cultural and historical works, how often the Lower Mississippi Voodoo religion has parallels and mirrors to other cultural traditions and practices of contemporary Louisiana cultures. In essence, this book, I believe, provides a great resource for drawing these parallels with the limited-documented African Créole cultures of historical Louisiana.
May 17, 2026
A short but fascinating introduction to what the author terms Mississippi River valley Voodoo (as distinct from Haitian Vodou or African Vodun). As part of my continued interest in real world magic systems, I wanted to know more about the historical basis of Voodoo. Anderson’s book is an excellent beginning point for those looking for academic rigor in defining and understanding historical Mississippi River valley Voodoo rather than current attempts to revitalize the religion today.
While I trust Anderson’s research and findings, I was struck by the sheer dearth of primary sources to allow us to clearly define this historic religious practice. In recent years communities have worked to reclaim indigenous religious practices which sometimes can conflict with the historic record. This doesn’t make them illegitimate, as Anderson reaffirms throughout, but does mean we have to look skeptically at claims of uninterrupted tradition and a firm historic basis.
Overall, I appreciated Anderson’s well crafted and concise findings. The book was very approachable and it taught me about a religion and spirituality I knew little about.
While I trust Anderson’s research and findings, I was struck by the sheer dearth of primary sources to allow us to clearly define this historic religious practice. In recent years communities have worked to reclaim indigenous religious practices which sometimes can conflict with the historic record. This doesn’t make them illegitimate, as Anderson reaffirms throughout, but does mean we have to look skeptically at claims of uninterrupted tradition and a firm historic basis.
Overall, I appreciated Anderson’s well crafted and concise findings. The book was very approachable and it taught me about a religion and spirituality I knew little about.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews