Haitian Students Explain Voodoo

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Original post: DocHolliday

The following is an article from the Hilltop, Howard University's student paper, and the #1 student paper in the nation (I love being a Bison):

In order to clear up the myths and false accusations regarding the practice of voodoo, the Haitian Student Association (HSA) hosted a program titled "All Souls Day: The Demystification of Voodoo, an Examination of Voodoo in the Caribbean Islands," Thursday evening in the Blackburn Center.

Two panelists, Haitian-born Serge Bellegarde and Howard Caribbean history professor, Selwyn Covington, educated the packed room with information about the roots of Voodoo and why people should take a look at it without the negative bias the Christian religion has placed on it.

"Just as all religions have negative aspects, the Voodoo religion does, but for some reason, these negatives are given much more attention," Bellegarde said.

According to Covington, there is no need to look far in order to understand the depth of voodoo in Haitian society. It is in the dance and the drum beats in their popular music. All are based on the African culture. Voodoo does not sacrifice animals. It initiated divination by water or baptism and the use of the Holy cross. People who practice voodoo believe it holds an inner belief system that Christianity does not.

Covington believes that despite its positive attributes, the mainstream tends to focus on the negative aspects. Exorcisms are practiced by Catholics to rid people of evil and voodoo heals as well. Because it is not done in person and without contact with the person being healed, it is seen as out of the ordinary.

The panelists wanted to clarify that sticking needles in dolls that many people see on television is black magic and is not associated with voodoo.

As recent as 10 years ago, people were still being punished for practicing voodoo in certain parts of the world. In 1935, the Haitian penal code outlawed the practice with punishment of six months to two years in prison.

Colonial documents complained about the use of voodoo because it was unknown to them. They linked it to death. However, this religion has survived the negative and attempted to rid itself of the negative perspective surrounding it.

"Back in colonial times, Europeans realized the power of this religion practiced by Africans. Today Christianity uses it, but covers it with Catholic symbols," Covington said.

Director of Blackburn Roberta McLeod, whose family practices Roots, which is very similar to voodoo said, "Voodoo is a very powerful religion stripped from powerful people in order to overpower them."

The Haitian Revolution used voodoo to give those slaves involved the strength to fight and overtake their masters. The same cultural dances people do today were used to give the slave population strength.

President of HSA, Dapney Guillaume, who is Catholic, described her experience with the voodoo religion.

"I get fed the negatives of voodoo from my parents. They do practice its form of healing through medicine, but the stories of ghosts scare me in both religions," she said. "I have a new found respect for voodoo and believe that as we have the right to practice what religion we want, they have the right to practice theirs."

Junior psychology major Kristy-Lee Jean-Pierre also received negative messages from her parents about the practice.

"My parents always taught me to stay away. The program explained that people's thoughts on voodoo are due to enslaved minds," she said. "Voodoo actually is used to help people and protect them from harm with the help of ancestors."

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Original post: Jenfucius

A nice article regarding Haitian voodoo.

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Original post: ShekinahMoon

Voodoo does not sacrifice animals.

No they didn't say that. :???: Maybe his/her branch does not. But I have read enough to know some sects still do.

Covington believes that despite its positive attributes, the mainstream tends to focus on the negative aspects. Exorcisms are practiced by Catholics to rid people of evil and voodoo heals as well. Because it is not done in person and without contact with the person being healed, it is seen as out of the ordinary.

I agree with that. Just like in some churches some people "got the holy ghost" and that is encouraged by some Christians (not all Christians get into the holy ghost shouting idea) yet no one would dare call it possession yet when the same phenomena happens in another religion people are accused of being possessed by the devil. I do not see it as much but when I was younger it was normal when the drums in the church started to pick up speed and the singing got louder and faster someone would scream and get to running up and down the aisle. With people clapping and making way for this person to run until they fell out. When I was an adult and looked at a documentary on Voodoo and saw the same thing with the drums, singing, someone screaming and got to running all over the place. I realized the Black church (I'm African American) did not fall too far from it's roots. :lol:

The panelists wanted to clarify that sticking needles in dolls that many people see on television is black magic and is not associated with voodoo.

Is he for real? It all depends on what you are doing it for. The concept is that the doll represents a person and the needles can be inserted into the doll for healing or harm. The technique itself is not evil. Depends on what you are up to. If it is used for healing it works something like astral acupuncture.

"Back in colonial times, Europeans realized the power of this religion practiced by Africans. Today Christianity uses it, but covers it with Catholic symbols," Covington said.

Hmmm, I would need some examples to understand that statement :lol:

The Haitian Revolution used voodoo to give those slaves involved the strength to fight and overtake their masters. The same cultural dances people do today were used to give the slave population strength.

All hail the power of Vodum. The practice is powerful.

"Voodoo actually is used to help people and protect them from harm with the help of ancestors."

Well said. Over all nice article Doc.

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Original post: DocHolliday

I didn't write the article. I just copied it from the Hilltop.

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Original post: ShekinahMoon

[QUOTE=DocHolliday]I didn't write the article. I just copied it from the Hilltop.[/QUOTE]
I know this

My unbelief and two cents were in response to the writings of the author not the poster :lol:

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Original post: Harmonic_Order

Thanks for posting that, I remember it from the other Vodoun post.

H_O

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Original post: Samhain

Wherever the material comes from, I question some of it. For example, since I've attended Voodoo rituals that involves animal sacrifice, I'm inclined to believe that it is part of Voodoo for at least some practitioners. And these were people from Haiti who seemed to know what they were doing.

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Original post: Exorcist

[QUOTE=Samhain]Wherever the material comes from, I question some of it. For example, since I've attended Voodoo rituals that involves animal sacrifice, I'm inclined to believe that it is part of Voodoo for at least some practitioners. And these were people from Haiti who seemed to know what they were doing.[/QUOTE] Very true.

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Original post: DocHolliday

[QUOTE=Samhain]Wherever the material comes from, I question some of it. For example, since I've attended Voodoo rituals that involves animal sacrifice, I'm inclined to believe that it is part of Voodoo for at least some practitioners. And these were people from Haiti who seemed to know what they were doing.[/QUOTE]
These were the Hatian students at Howard Universtiy.