Every year I learn new things, from friends posts to facebook and from the programs that our labor union puts on at work. Do you know that Voodoo ties into some events of black history?
The most significant is the Haitian Revolution of 1791 to 1804. A Vodou ceremony at Bwa Kayiman was the place where plans were first made for the revolt. François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, pictured above, was an important leader who trained the men to be warriors. It was the first successful slave revolt and formed the nation of Haiti.
New Orleans had a unique set of laws regarding slavery, Code Noir, which was passed by the King of France in 1685. One of these was that slaves were given Sundays off. They were also required to be Roman Catholic and Voodoo practice was illegal. They took the opportunity to gather for music and dancing and a marketplace in Congo Square, which was a good cover for Voodoo ceremonies. By the early 19th century the ceremonies not only were open and known, they became an attraction famously lead by Marie Laveau.
Love, Khouzhan Lucy
Comments