08/08/2025
One of the biggest cultural appropriation cases that ever happened in Hoodoo is what happened to the face of High John the Conqueror.
High John the Conqueror is a important, vital, and pivotal figure in African American Hoodoo lore. He's celebrated as a deified spirit and a symbol of resistance, hope, and resilience. Born an African prince, he was captured and enslaved. However, he used his powers to bring joy and courage to other enslaved people, helping them endure and resist their oppression. He embodied and placed his spirit in High John root for those enslaved and their descendants to beat the odds and is a powerful hand for luck, strength, and empowerment regarding all conditions of life.
During the 20th century, a significant act of cultural appropriation occurred when white-owned businesses began selling Hoodoo products. To broaden their customer base and increase sales, these stores frequently "whitewashed" items like the High John the Conqueror products. They replaced the image of an African prince with that of a white man, effectively erasing the figure's Black American origins and co-opting the symbol for commercial gain. This practice distorted the true meaning and history of High John.
This whitewashed imagery was possibly fueled by a misinterpretation of author Zora Neale Hurston's work. Hurston, a celebrated African American author and anthropologist, famously compared High John the Conqueror to the legendary King Arthur. However, her comparison was a literary one, meant to highlight High John's profound significance as a powerful and enduring hero within the Black community. She never claimed he was King Arthur; in fact, she was very clear that he was an African prince and an African American deity. Sadly, this symbolic comparison was twisted to justify the inaccurate depiction of High John as a white king.
This misrepresentation has caused lasting damage to High John's legacy. By reducing his image to a white figure and his story to superficial attributes like male virility or gambling, the deeper historical and cultural significance of High John as a symbol of Black empowerment has been overlooked. This act of appropriation has led to confusion and a disconnect among newer generations, who may not understand High John's true importance within African American culture and Hoodoo. Unfortunately, to date, you see people of all shades, ethnic groups, and races buying products with a whitewashed High John the Conqueror.
Don't forget my page is called "THE HOODOO CULTURE By Mama Yana." I aim to spread awareness regarding Hoodoo culture so that it is not forgotten or erased.
Whitewashing in culture is the practice of erasing, minimizing, or replacing non-white characters, stories, or historical events with white characters or perspectives. The core issue is the marginalization or wiping out of people of color and their cultural narratives..
Cultural appropriation occurs when members of a dominant culture take elements from a minority or marginalized culture. A key issue is that these elements are often adopted without any understanding of their original significance or history.
One of the central problems with cultural appropriation is the power imbalance between the dominant and minority cultures.
Cultural appropriation include power imbalance, exploitation, and misrepresentation.
Finally, there's the issue of unequal consequences. While a person from the dominant culture may face no backlash for a particular cultural practice, a person from the minority culture might face criticism, negative stereotypes, or even discrimination for doing the exact same thing.
Remember, I love you 💜
