Spells, Spirits, and Charms in the Harlem Renaissance

Abstract

This article analyzes specific examples of magic found in two major artistic outlets of the
Harlem Renaissance, jazz, and literature. Characters use voodoo and hoodoo to seek power
and revenge, control the supposed stronger party, and give meaning to seemingly insignificant
occurrences, thus offering a way for the artists of the Harlem Renaissance to control their own
lives and black aesthetic achievement.