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Savannah is in HooDoo Country…
Hoodoo is not a misspelling. It’s not the same thing as Voodoo. Voodoo, an African Diaspora religion, is derived from several West African spiritual practices.
Hoodoo can be described as a mix of spirituality, folk magic, and homeopathy. It is also a mixture of natural medicine and healing using botanical knowledge.
Hoodoo is a combination of Voodoo’s religious and spiritual practices. Hoodoo includes spiritual practices that remove curses, evil spirits and bring good fortune. Hoodoo was largely born out of necessity. Enslaved people were able to treat their own ailments using the herbal knowledge from Africa, which they had brought from Native Americans.
Enslavers didn’t care about their labor force and passed laws to stop them from getting medical care. They were afraid that slaves might poison their masters with their herbal knowledge. Some did. You can’t blame them.
This fear created a taboo around spiritual healing and herb work. It is still prevalent today: Hoodoo and Voodoo were deemed “evil” and “dark” instead of religious practices and skilled, botanical-based natural healing. If you have ever tried to cure a cold using ginger, oregano, and herbal teas, as well as chicken broth, then you are familiar with the “dark arts of botanical healing.”
Hoodoo, much like Voodoo and Voodoo are byproducts of the slave trade. It’s still very common in Savannah.
You can still hire a root physician to visit the graveyard (“the gardens”) and talk to the victim about your murder trial. Take, for example.
AHEM: If you haven’t yet read Midnight in The Garden of Good & Evil and don’t want the story, skip to the next section! It’s not the plot that makes this book so great, we have to say.
Hoodoo was an integral part of the most well-known Savannah story, the Jim Williams trial. This case is featured in The Book. Jim Williams, a murder suspect, hired a Hoodoo Root Doctor who used various spells to affect everyone involved in the case: his lawyers, his ex-love, and even his murder victim. It worked: Jim Williams was tried four times and walked out free each time. This is a true story. It’s also one of the most bizarre and interesting true crime stories that we have ever heard.
The story does not end there. Jim Williams was acquitted and returned to Mercer House. He fell from his deathbed, only 10 feet away from the spot where his ex-lover/murder victim had fallen. He would have fallen at the exact same spot if he had been shot by the man who he claimed he killed in self-defense.
The kicker? Some say they saw Jim Williams’ root doctor leaving his house the day before. She’d come to collect on her bill for 5 years worth of Hoodoo, and apparently, he didn’t pay.
Y’all: do not try to stiff a root doctor. It will not end well.
News bites
 Savannah State University is pleased to announce that the 33rd Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival will take place February 1-20th in a hybrid format. “Celebrating Culture, Celebrating Heritage, Celebrating You”… Read more. |
 Vic’s River Grill, the newest restaurant to set up shop on River Street is nearing completion and should open soon Read more. |
 Mayor Van Johnson says the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day parade will be “an awesome opportunity to dramatically reset and reimagine the St. Patrick’s Day experience” in Savannah. Read more. |
 The City of Savannah and Oak View Group Facilities are getting ready to mark the opening of the Enmarket Arena. According to a press release, the groups will be holding… Read more. |
Events
Today
 Bruce Davidson: Face to Face is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
 Contemporary Spotlight: New Acquisitions from the Brandywine Workshop is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
 Chul-Hyun Ahn: Beyond is an exhibition at Telfair Museums . Read more. |
 Sips at the Station is Savannah’s best networking event benefiting our community and encouraging guests to discover all things local! Read more. |
Friday
 A Stand Up comedy showcase featuring some of the best performers from all over the country! Read more. |
 Figure up in here!Elan Savannah presentsFigureSupport:TBALine-Up:TBATickets: www.elansavannah.comThis event is 18 and up. Must show photo ID at the door. Sections on either side of the stage are sold as VIP… Read more. |
 OKEY DOKEY NORDISTA co headlining banger featuring Savannah folk drum hero JALEN REYES and his new damn band. Read more. |
Saturday
 Ether Coven, Gillian Carter, Dying Whale, Long Way Down happening at The Sentient Bean, 13 E Park Ave, Savannah, United States on Sat Jan 29 2022 at 07:30 pm Read more. |
 Prison City BBQ Food Pop Up happening at Southbound Brewing Company, 107 E Lathrop Ave, Savannah, United States on Sat Jan 29 2022 at 01:00 pm Read more. |
 TicZach Deputy’s upcoming concert at District Live at Plant Riverside District in Savannah on Jan 25, 2022. Read more. |
 The authentic recreation of Fleetwood Mac show is coming back to Victory North Savannah 2022!Formed in 2014, Rumours (also known as Rumours ATL) has taken the U.S. by storm with… Read more. |
 Stand up comedy Live at The Wormhole- Dustin SimsDustin Sims is a comedian from Oxford, Alabama. Best known for his Snapchat videos and ‘Talking to Myself’ series. His unique style… Read more. |
Sunday
 Herbal Salves 101 happening at Cosmic Corner, 305 east 38th street, Savannah, United States on Sun Jan 30 2022 at 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm Read more. |
 Frosty balls happening at VFW Post 660, 5115 Ogeechee Rd, Savannah, GA 31405, United States on Sun Feb 06 2022 at 09:00 am Read more. |
Monday
 BSF returns to Calvary- In person groups and online groups. In person Student Program. Let’s go! happening at Calvary Baptist Temple, 4625 Waters Ave, Savannah GA, Savannah, United States on… Read more. |
Tuesday
 Savannah Doll Show happening at Beach Institute, 502 E. Harris St, Savannah, United States on Tue Feb 01 2022 at 12:00 pm to Sun Mar 20 2022 at 05:00 pm Read more. |
 GSIS 2022 happening at Savannah Convention Center, One International Dr, Savannah, GA 31421, Savannah, United States on Tue Feb 01 2022 at 08:00 am to Thu Feb 03 2022 at… Read more. |
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