Abstracts Philosophy, Religion, and Theology

Southern Conjure women : manifestors of Southern Black joy

by Keshunta Drake

Southern Conjure women are the manifestors of Southern Black joy. Southern conjure women are women from or in the South. These women utilize root work and/or conjure as a means of empowerment, self-preservation, and healing. In the discussion of Southern conjure women, I employ "conjure feminism" to understand the significance of Southern conjure women and their role in society. In addition, I also use Lindsey Stewart's The Politics of Black Joy to discuss how root work plays a significant role in the production of Southern Black joy. In my discussion of the Southern conjure woman, I explore Gloria Naylor's Mama Day and Ntozake Shange's Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo. I utilize characters from these works as archetypes of Southern conjure women. I also talk about how each character utilizes root work and conjure to manifest Southern Black joy.