Berlin-Peck Library to Host Online Talk With Prominent Author Thursday

BERLIN, CT— The Berlin-Peck Memorial Library will host an online author talk with feminist philosopher Dr. Lindsey Stewart on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Stewart will discuss her book, "The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic."

The event is free, but registration is required to receive the invite link, according to library information.

The book examines the lives and traditions of African American women across four centuries.

It 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.”

The women, Stewart writes, “in secrecy and subterfuge, courageously and devotedly continued their practices and worship for centuries and passed down their traditions.”

According to event materials, the book argues that conjure traditions have shaped American life in both visible and subtle ways — “from traditional medicines that informed the creation of Vicks VapoRub and the rise of Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix, to the original magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the true origins of the all-American classic blue jean.”

The book also explores how conjure practices were “heavily regulated and even outlawed” after enslaved Africans arrived in America.

Stewart draws on letters from enslaved people and “dispatches from the lore of Oshun and other African mystics” to trace that history.

She describes The Conjuring of America as “a love letter to the real magic Black women used, their herbs, food, textiles, song, and dance, used to sow rebellion, freedom, and hope.”

Residents may watch the program remotely or contact the library to arrange to view the online event at the library.

For more information and to register for the event, click on this link.