Explore African and Black History, One Story at a Time
When you think about Halloween and African American History, do you ever wonder about Zombies and Hoodoo or where the traditions we celebrate today come […]
Events Global African HistoryWhen you think about Halloween and African American History, do you ever wonder about Zombies and Hoodoo or where the traditions we celebrate today come from? As we carve pumpkins, wear costumes, and talk about spirits and spooky things, itâs easy to forget the long, interesting history behind this holiday.
Halloweenâs origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a time to honor the dead and protect the living. But whatâs even more surprising is how these customs are similar to African spiritual practices, like honoring ancestors and calling on spirits. Have you ever thought about how connected these traditions might be?
Letâs dive in and explore the powerful cultural roots of Halloween.
One of the creepiest characters in Halloween stories is the ‘zombie’âa figure many people think of as a brain-eating monster. But the real story behind zombies comes from the dark history of ‘Haitian Vodou’ and the brutal reality of slavery.
Zombies didnât start in Hollywood; they began in the ’17th and 18th centuries’ on the sugar plantations of ‘Saint-Domingue’ (modern-day Haiti), where African slaves were forced to work under terrible conditions. Many died within a few years due to the harsh treatment.
Imagine the hopelessness the slaves must have felt, trapped in this brutal life. The zombie myth symbolized their worst fearâa future where, even in death, they would remain enslaved.
In Haitian Vodou, zombies werenât driven by a hunger for flesh but were cursed to be slaves forever, even after death. This reflected the horrors the slaves experienced daily.
The story of Halloweenâs origins goes back over 2,000 years to the ‘festival of ‘Samhain’, celebrated by the Celts in what are now Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Around the 1st century BCE, the Celts believed that the boundary between the living and the dead became thin during Samhain, allowing spirits to walk the earth.
To protect themselves, they lit bonfires and wore costumes to blend in with these spirits. These ancient customs later evolved into todayâs trick-or-treating.
During Samhain, the Celts also practiced divination, believing that this time allowed them to communicate with spirits and see into the future. This is similar to the spiritual practices in Hoodoo and Voodoo, where people called upon spirits for guidance and protection. These ancient traditions highlight the human desire to connect with the supernatural during uncertain times.
When we think about Halloween and African American history, we rarely consider how deeply intertwined they are. Isnât it strange that Halloween is viewed as an American holiday, despite its strong connections to African spiritual practices?
In many African cultures, practices like juju or muti are met with fear and skepticism. Just imagine how those societies might react to people dressed as witches and ghosts, knocking on doors for candyâitâd be quite a sight!
If Halloweenâs African roots were more widely known, would we celebrate it differently? Today, itâs all about costumes, candy, and fun, but it originally involved ancestor veneration and the connection between the living and the dead.
While commercialization has buried this deeper meaning, the African roots of Halloween and its ties to African American history are still there.
In the end, the African roots of Hoodoo, Voodoo, and the zombie myth provide a deeper understanding of Halloween and African American history’s connection to the supernatural. From its origins with the Celtic Samhain festival to its evolution through African spiritual systems brought to the Americas during slavery, these elements shape our modern Halloween celebrations.
Halloween is much more than spooky fun. While many of these connections have been forgotten or commercialized, they remain an essential part of the holidayâs deep and tangled history.
On a bright June day in 1865, before Juneteenth was a federal holiday, an unknown individual stood in Galveston, Texas, experienced the warm breeze of […]
African American History EventsOn a bright June day in 1865, before Juneteenth was a federal holiday, an unknown individual stood in Galveston, Texas, experienced the warm breeze of historic change. The salty breeze from the Gulf of Mexico brushes against their face. Suddenly, they hear the excited murmurs of people gathering around the town square. Itâs June 19th, and Major General Gordon Granger has just arrived with life-changing news. As he steps forward, he announces the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in Texas free at last. The crowd erupts in joy and disbelief, their hearts filled with hope and newfound freedom.
But hereâs where the story gets even more intense. The announcement came as a surprise to the enslaved people in Texas. No one told them that slavery had ended two years prior. Can you believe that? Despite the Emancipation Proclamation being issued on January 1, 1863, slaveholders in Texas kept this crucial information to themselves, continuing their violent exploitation of African Americans. This delay made the moment on June 19, 1865, even more bittersweet, as it marked the end of a prolonged period of unnecessary suffering.
Early celebrations of Juneteenth started in 1866, with church-centered gatherings in Texas. As you walk through these gatherings, you can see people dressed in their finest clothes, enjoying cookouts, rodeos, music festivals, and fishing. The joy is palpable, and the sense of community is strong.
Fast forward to the 1920s and 1930s, and Juneteenth has spread across the South. The celebrations become more commercialized, often centered around vibrant food festivals. Booths lined with mouth-watering barbecue, a staple at Juneteenth events. The sound of jazz and blues music fills the air as children run around playing games and laughing.
During the Great Migration, African Americans moved to different parts of the country. Seeking to become part of mainstream society, many left this tradition behind them. By the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement brought a new focus to the struggle for equality. Although Juneteenth celebrations were briefly overshadowed, they made a strong comeback in the 1970s, putting an emphasis on African-American freedom and arts.
Itâs important to note another significant event in this era. In the late 1860s, the Reconstruction Treaties were signed, forcing tribes such as the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw to free their slaves. This marked another step toward freedom and equality, showing the widespread impact of emancipation efforts beyond just Texas.
Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, acknowledging the importance of this day in an official capacity. Many other states soon did the same, embracing Juneteenth as a day of celebration and remembrance.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making it a federal holiday. This historic moment underscored the importance of acknowledging our past and celebrating the progress we’ve made. Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
As you can see, Juneteenth is not just about the past. Itâs about the present and the future. Celebrations today are vibrant and diverse, reflecting the rich culture and heritage of African Americans. You can feel the rhythm of African drums, graceful dances and soulful singing. There are also lectures and exhibitions teaching about African-American history and culture, instilling pride and heritage in young minds.
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and unity. It reminds us of the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us and encourages us to continue striving for a more just and equal society.
So, as we enjoy the festivities, let’s also remember the significance of this day and why itâs crucial to keep acknowledging and celebrating Juneteenth. By doing so, we honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations to cherish their history and continue the journey towards equality and freedom for all.
“After James’ minister gave a brief eulogy, his cousin sang the Lordâs Prayer and Dr. Samuels’ nurse turned off the console that supplied power to […]
Scientific Racism“After James’ minister gave a brief eulogy, his cousin sang the Lordâs Prayer and Dr. Samuels’ nurse turned off the console that supplied power to James Quinn’s artificial heart.
Suddenly, Mr. Quinn sat bolt upright and thrust his arms out as if to the heavens before crossing his hands and lying back down. âYouâre killing him!â screamed his wife Irene. âHe wasnât ready!â (Washington, 2006).
Mrs. Quinn, Jamesâ wife, couldnât help but relive the heavy burden crushing her spirit. Grief and sorrow vibrated in the depths of her soul as she realized the patient advocate, though it may seem strange, advocated for the hospital and the company’s interests. It felt like a betrayal, sinking her into a sea of confusion and doubt.
Like an unfamiliar song on replay, the technical language and scientific jargon the couple experienced echoed in her mind, overpowering her senses. This is the story of African-American James Quinn and the experimental procedure of the AbioCor artificial heart.
Mrs. Quinnâs husband, James Quinn, was diagnosed with heart failure and given six months to live.
He was the second patient of six to receive the experimental AbioCor heart, following telephone employee Robert Tools, a 59-year-old African-American diabetic with a history of heart problems.
Robert chose the surgery after being deemed too old and sick for a traditional heart transplant. Despite hopes for a new lease on life, Robert Tools tragically passed away five months after the surgery.Â
Representatives for the AbioCor artificial heart approached Mr. Quinn for the trial procedure. James harbored concerns about losing his human heart and wondered if he’d still experience the same emotions.
He and his wife were told that getting the experimental heart would allow him to be more active and that this surgery was his best shot at a life full of meaning in the months to come.
Motivated by hope of leaving the hospital and reuniting with his wife and grandchildren, he gave his consent to undergo the experimental procedure.
On November 5, 2001, James Quinn underwent implantation surgery to receive AbioCor’s experimental heart.
But just weeks later, tragedy struck. James experienced disruption of blood flow or bleeding in the brain, causing him to have a stroke, leaving him struggling to walk and in excruciating pain.Â
Then, the doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia, further worsening his condition.
He descended to a state of complete lossâof thoughts, movement, feelings, sight, and speechâdeclared brain dead as the experimental heart, a softball sized pump powered by batteries, continued to pulsate within his chest.
Abiomed, the company responsible for the AbioCor heart device, fell short of the companyâs claim that James would enjoy a ‘six-month window of good living’ with the AbioCor device. Despite surviving 289 days after the surgery, he was never strong enough to walk out of the hospital and reunite with his wife and grandchildren.
In a heart-wrenching scene, family, friends, and the family minister gathered at the bedside of the 51-year-old Vietnam veteran to bid their final farewells.
Their tear-stained faces reflected the profound loss felt by all who knew him. Then, the console supplying power to Jamesâ heart was turned off, marking the end of his life.
By 2005, all fourteen patients who had received AbioCor artificial hearts had died. Two patients died immediately after the surgery.
Ten couldn’t handle the medicine that was supposed to stop blood clots. Additionally, the device failed twice, resulting in six patients suffering from strokes. These strokes made their health decline rapidly.
After her husbandâs passing, Mrs. Quinn maintained that Abiomed Corporation had withheld complete information about all the potential dangers of the experimental procedure.
When Mr. Quinn first found out about his condition, he and his wife were told he only had six months left with his weak heart.
If the circumstances of Mr. Quinn signing the consent forms are true, then maybe he would have said no to the risky procedure. He might have preferred to take his chances and spend more time making memories with his family.
To Make Things Worse, Abiomed applied to the FDA for permission to market the artificial heart as a humanitarian device. They also requested FDA approval for the experimental implantation of the artificial heart without obtaining informed consent from patients. The FDA denied their request.Â
Good informed consent practices involve a few key steps. First, healthcare providers need to clearly explain the diagnosis, treatment options, risks, benefits, and potential outcomes in a way that patients can easily understand.
Next, they should make sure the patient really gets the information by asking them to explain it back or answer some questions about it.
It’s also important that patients make their decisions freely, without feeling pressured by anyone.
Finally, the entire process and the patient’s agreement should be well-documented, usually with a signed consent form, to keep a clear record of the patient’s informed choice.
According to James Quinn’s wife Irene, someone involved deliberately overlooked one or more of the steps in this process.
In 2003, on behalf of her deceased husband, Mrs. Quinn sued the device manufacturer Abiomed and the hospital. She and the company reached a $125,000 settlement.
The debate surrounding James Quinn, like many other black people who were pioneers in dangerous and untested surgeries, brings up a crucial point about how they were perceived as worthless.
As advancements are made and procedures become safer, do you think black families are being left out of the very breakthroughs they helped bring about?
Discover the ‘Terror Dome’ of Holmesburg Prison-where the living were sent to be forgotten.
Citation/Other Sources:
Washington, H. A. (2006). The Machine Age. In Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present. Anchor Books.
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf4/h040006b.pdf   https://www.wired.com/2001/08/the-man-with-the-artificial-heart/