Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:11-12
This week, I saw some TikTok videos claiming Harriet Tubman wasn't real. Thankfully, many other creators quickly disproved these claims with evidence. My writing partner, Denise Alvarado, isn't on TikTok, so I texted her about it. I suggested she share her article on Harriet Tubman to promote our Hoodoo Almanac, thinking people would prefer information from an educated researcher over a conspiracy theorist.
I left it to Denise and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up early, around 1:30 AM. Since I had some time before work, I filmed a quick video featuring Denise's article from the Hoodoo Almanac and added relevant hashtags to help publicize the book.
A few hours later, during my first work break, I checked my phone and saw a short, negative comment on my video. I made the mistake of asking the person to explain, hoping to be a peacemaker. Instead, I was criticized for being white and supposedly profiting from "closed practices" meant only for people of African descent.
The debate went nowhere, so for my own peace, I deleted the comments and blocked the account. However, after thinking about it all day, I want to address a few points:
There Are No "Hoodoo Police"
While some people claim to be authorities on Hoodoo and try to dictate who can or cannot practice it, they have no actual authority. They only have opinions.
My Hoodoo Knowledge Comes from Experience, Not Just Books
I'm 52 years old and grew up before Hoodoo was widely written about or easily found online. I learned these practices from people, many of whom were Black. For example, when I was a customer service representative at Winn Dixie in Beaufort, South Carolina (in the Low Country), I often used my psychic abilities to help older women with their dream books to pick winning lottery numbers. In return, these women taught me techniques, spells, and rituals. Some even gave me supplies like candles, mojo bags, and oils.
None of these wise individuals ever told me their knowledge was a secret. They shared with me because they saw I was sincere and would use the information wisely and respectfully. If Hoodoo were a "closed practice," they would not have shared their "secrets" with me.
For public record, I am also a graduate of Lucky Mojo's Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course (Student Number 56G). I was among the first group to sign up for the course in the early 2000s, which enhanced my Hoodoo education but wasn't its sole foundation. And in graduating I earned that G, which is more than I can say for many other people.
My Work Has Value
Yes, I do "profit" from the Hoodoo Almanac, but I'm not going to get rich from it. The point is, my time and talent are valuable and clearly in demand, or we wouldn't be selling books. I have years of experience in the Hoodoo Tradition—more years than some of my critics have been alive. I refuse to be disrespected for being white and for trying to inform, educate, enlighten, or enrich others' lives with the knowledge entrusted to me.
And yet I also profit in non-material ways as well. I have formed many genuine friendships, and I have heard from countless people over the years who have shared with me how I have touched their lives in a meaningful way. My generosity is evident if you look at my work, the vast amount of free information and wisdom I've shared over the years, and my countless charitable acts.
Moving Forward
I will no longer engage with detractors. Their comments will be deleted, and their accounts blocked at the first sign of disrespect. As I've said, I'm olde and tired of false accusations, racism, people trying to police me, and people trying to tear me down. However, I am not too old or tired to defend my name and those I love and I will use every tool available to me to protect myself. I only strive to be a source of light and live a peaceful life.
Carolina Dean
Two Headed Doctor
