The Conjuring of America

Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women's Magic

By: Lindsey Stewart

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

From a Black philosopher and the author of The Politics of Black Joy, an epic retelling of American history from slavery to Jim Crow from the perspective of the Black women who used magic and spirituality to gain freedom and reshape the culture of the nation.

The Conjuring of America tells the epic story of conjure women, who, through a mix of spiritual beliefs, herbal rituals, and therapeutic remedies gave rise to the rich tapestry of American culture we see today. Feminist philosopher, Lindsey Stewart, tells 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. These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries and passed down their traditions.

Emerging first in the American South during slavery, these women were thrust into the heart of national conflicts over generations of African American life. They combined ancestral magic and hyperlocal resources to respond to Black struggles in real time, forging a secret well of health and power hidden to their oppressors. As a result, conjure informs our lives in ways remarkable and ordinary—from traditional medicines that informed the creation of Vicks VapoRub and the rise of Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix, to the original magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the true origins of the all-American classic blue jean.

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, used to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope.

Critic reviews

“Lindsey Stewart’s remarkable commitment and tireless research, combined with the breadth of her keen insight, pride, and understanding of her subject matter, are only part of what makes The Conjuring of America so powerful. This exploration of our shamefully ignored and dismissed history is a compelling and essential standout. Important and altogether unique, this read informs and transports as it ushers a glorious cast of influential Black women to life.”—Lucy Anne Hurston, sociologist, niece of Zora Neale Hurston, Speak, So You Can Speak Again

“With The Conjuring of America we welcome Lindsey Stewart to the table of hope, for her work is the deep, courage dive into the sea of lost truths. She recovers the critical treasures from the waters in her breathtaking honest and beautifully rendered new work. And we are the better for it.”—asha bandele, New York Times bestselling co-author of When They Call you a Terrorist and author of Daughter and The Prisoner’s Wife

“Lindsey Stewart's arrival on the scene is not only exciting and powerful, but necessary. Black and feminist history is shamefully incomplete; conjure women are vital parts of our foundation and fabric. I love this book. We need this book! Now more than ever.”—Patrisse Cullors, co-founder Black Lives Matter and New York Times bestselling author of When They Call You a Terrorist

“In The Conjuring of America, Lindsey Stewart offers nothing less than a rethinking of our national culture through the stories of 'conjure women.' When we talk about who and what has made our culture uniquely American, this essential story must be told, and Dr. Stewart does it with wisdom, erudition, and empathy.”—Jeff Chang, Ford fellow, historian, journalist and music critic, and author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Who We Be, and Water Mirror Echo

Now I understand

I was raised in Brazil and one of the most important person in my young life was our nanny. She would have been first generation of free African slave. I watched her participate in Candomblé, use herbs to heal, and so much I learnt from your book now makes sense. Thank you for writing this book.

Yes yes yes!

The book we’ve been waiting for. Learn about your Grandma n nem! Learn about yourself. Thank you Dr. Stewart!

the indepth historical detail and time line of black women 's influence on America

I loved the readers voice the subject matter the empowering history of the black mother! the revolutionary history of black woman and the exposure of the inhumane unjust thievery and cruelty of white people that continues to be promoted today!

Enlightening

I love the narrators voice, inflection and speed in which she read this. Great information and sheds more light on topics that may have been traum for our culture.

The conjuring of America

Very informative and clear! She had really good examples and transitioned into other chapters easily.