Zora Neale Hurston, High John the Conquerer vs. Donald Trump

[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

[Tanuki]

1. Always glad to kick a post like this! Hurston's novel

Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my favorites.

[shrike]

2. Just read it, enjoyed it tremendously

Been getting into the Harlem Renaissance lately: James Baldwin, Langston Hughes. Have Ellison on my list. Did not like the Color Purple, I'll be honest. But Hurston was, for me, that rarity: absorbing plot combined with beautiful writing.

[orangecrush]

4. ...

[orangecrush]

3. She had style,

Not just in writing...


"I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions."
- Letter from Zora Neale Hurston to Countee Cullen

"Zora Neale Hurston knew how to make an entrance. On May 1, 1925, at a literary awards dinner sponsored by Opportunity magazine, the earthy Harlem newcomer turned heads and raised eyebrows as she claimed four awards: a second-place fiction prize for her short story "Spunk," a second-place award in drama for her play Color Struck, and two honorable mentions.

The names of the writers who beat out Hurston for first place that night would soon be forgotten. But the name of the second-place winner buzzed on tongues all night, and for days and years to come. Lest anyone forget her, Hurston made a wholly memorable entrance at a party following the awards dinner. She strode into the room--jammed with writers and arts patrons, black and white--and flung a long, richly colored scarf around her neck with dramatic flourish as she bellowed a reminder of the title of her winning play: "Colooooooor Struuckkkk!" Her exultant entrance literally stopped the party for a moment, just as she had intended. In this way, Hurston made it known that a bright and powerful presence had arrived. By all accounts, Zora Neale Hurston could walk into a roomful of strangers and, a few minutes and a few stories later, leave them so completely charmed that they often found themselves offering to help her in any way they could.

Gamely accepting such offers--and employing her own talent and scrappiness--Hurston became the most successful and most significant black woman writer of the first half of the 20th century. Over a career that spanned more than 30 years, she published four novels, two books of folklore, an autobiography, numerous short stories, and several essays, articles and plays."

http://zoranealehurston.com/about/