Zora Neale Hurston, High John the Conquerer vs. Donald Trump [View all]

[orangecrush]

Was doing some digging and reading on Southern African American folklore (translation - I have a fascination with folk magic, pagan origins and beliefs from all sources), and ran across the writings of the amazing Zora Neale Hurston.

I saw the wiki entry, and searched for the article, which I could only find in pdf form. Started reading, and my jaw dropped as I was delighted and deeply respectful of her insight and talent.

"High John the,Conquerer" is the personification of hope, unbreakable spirit, and laughing in the face of oppression.

The power is very real.

An Adolph Hitler or a Donald Trump is no match for such power.

I intend to read as much of Zora's writings as I can absorb. I feel blessed as I read her, and you might also.




"In "High John De Conquer", Zora Neale Hurston reports that:

like King Arthur of England, he has served his people. And, like King Arthur, he is not dead. He waits to return when his people shall call him again ... High John de Conquer went back to Africa, but he left his power here, and placed his American dwelling in the root of a certain plant. Only possess that root, and he can be summoned at any time.[citation needed]

This is from Hurston's published article in American Mercury magazine in 1943. In this article she relates a few stories about High John, enough to define him, but not an exhaustive survey of the folklore. The purpose was to present the nation with the hope-building and the power of this inspiring figure during the darkest days of World War II. The article ends with:

So the brother in black offers to these United States the source of courage that endures, and laughter. High John de Conquer. If the news from overseas reads bad, if the nation inside seems like it is stuck in the Tar Baby, listen hard, and you will hear High John de Conquer treading on his singing-drum. You will know then, that no matter how bad things look now, it will be worse for those who seek to oppress us.... White America, take a laugh from out of our black mouths, and win! We give you High John de Conquer."

— The American Mercury, October 1943, pp. 450-458[1]


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Conqueror