(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Take part in a virtual discussion featuring author and feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 2:00pm. Her book, The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women's Magic, tells the stories of Negro Mammies of slavery, the Voodoo Queens and Blues Women of Reconstruction, and the Granny Midwives and textile weavers of the Jim Crow era.
These women, in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries, and passed down their traditions.
From the moment enslaved Africans first arrived on these shores, conjure was heavily regulated and even outlawed. Now, Stewart uncovers letters from the enslaved and dispatches from the lore of Oshun and other African mystics, honoring the real magic Black women used, their herbs, food, textiles, song, and dance, used to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope.
Registration is required for this free program. To register, visit tinyurl.com/StewartOCL, call 732-349-6200, or visit your local OCL branch. Join them to take part in the magic and celebrate the legacy of America’s founding Black women.
The Conjuring of America is available for free to Ocean County Library cardholders. To request a copy, visit tinyurl.com/ConjuringOCL, call 732-349-6200, or visit your local OCL branch.
