Voodoo Dolls, Religion, and Running from Massa. Why Medicine People Were Persecuted During and After Slavery & True Tales of Survival

<p>*****Today is a special day, MLK Day. I learned that my great grandfather was very good friends with Martin Luther King and they have a photo together on the pulpit. *****&nbsp;</p> <p>Voodoo Dolls is a combination of improv and commentary based on documented stories from various planters and those that were able to read and write during the times of slavery. Oral tradition has also played a major role in remembering stories all over the world which bare many themes. Voodoo is the synchronization of West African Orisha with Christianity/Catholism characteristics.&nbsp;</p> <p>Within the deeper etches of voodoo, for some, dolls were used as a medium to house spirits or protect them in the afterlife. &nbsp;Spiritual trauma is real and when a person is murdered, there may be a set of consequences that occur for the individual and they need additional trauma support. Yes, this gets deep.&nbsp;</p> <p>When we examine the plight and fight for life of slavery, voodoo became more of a resource for many slaves. &nbsp;Dolls were have said to have inflicted pain and misery. &nbsp;This type of practice was forbidden on the plantation as the medicine woman or man would be responsible for disease and misery inflicted upon Massa and his entire family. Some slaves were deathly afraid of this as they were loyal to Massa. Massa taught slaves during harsh punishment that he was god and must be obeyed. &nbsp;To worship the dead is treason against god especially if they were the deceased slaves. This rhetoric plays itself out until this day where people are afraid of learning about their ancestors and how they died. &nbsp;I want to be remembered don't you? As far as the understanding the creation of the black church was a hub to help accelerate support, communication, and healing. &nbsp;&nbsp;Although some may believe this is folktale, I find it interesting that these accounts happened in different parts of the country &nbsp;and the world--to be honest. There are similarities in various religions around the world with a few variat