In my very first blog of this series, I analyzed compilation on Voodoo worship songs by a well-known singer of Haiti, Sò Anne. I have recently stumbled upon an article regarding her arrest in Haiti by the United States Marines in 2004. The United States government had believed that she been corroborating with Haitian dictator of the time, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, against then U.S. president George W. Bush, Jr. According to haitiaction.net, U.S. Marines entered the home of Sò Anne illegally, without the knowledge of the Haitian government.
Rumors had gone around that Sò Anne had conducted a Voodoo ritual which involved bathing Aristide in sacrificial blood in an attempt to put a curse on President Bush. In an interview with Democracy Now!, So Anne denied having done anything wrong, saying “That’s why I became in jail, because of Aristide, because I didn’t do nothing bad, you know? I didn’t do nothing bad. I was helping people.” (Anne) The accounted reason that the Marines had invaded her home was said to have been that they had reason to believe she was holding nuclear weapons there and was planning on using it on U.S. government stationed in Haiti. She spent two years in jail until she was released in 2006 when there was no evidence to keep her there.
Voodoo is something that frightens majority of people in the United States, despite the fact that there are members of the cult here. (Again, I use the word cult simply to refer to a religious group.) I feel that if So Anne had not been associated with Voodoo, the United States would have not felt they needed to go after her. Despite the supposed separation between church and state, her religion seemed to pose a threat. Christianity is the dominant religion and aside from atheism, Voodoo can be seen as its complete opposite. Can a viable comparison between this instance and one of the many instances of the Salem Witch Trials?
Works Cited
Anne, So. Interview. Amy Goodman. 15 August 2006.
The Haiti Information Project. "News." 12 May 2004. Haiti Action. 10 December 2009 http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HIP/5_12_4.html.
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I found this entry and your first to be extremely interesting. To further explore Voodoo you explored the culture within the music as well. This approach is very creative and made me want to read more! You had mentioned that were inclined to music and was very much interested by it. By using music as a vehicle to help you investigate Voodoo, you made your blog more personal. I also liked how you then related the United States’ perception of Voodoo through our government and the situation of So Anne. I was extremely surprised to find that they released her after having no evidence! It just goes to show you how fear instills people to do things that aren’t necessary justified. I also thought it was interesting how you used the concept of religion and state in your thought process. Basically the line between religion and state was crossed when they arrested her based off of her religion being seen as “evil.” One suggestion I might add would be including a little bit more from class readings or discussion. Maybe an article we have read or something from Delaney’s book? I think it would enhance your blog even more! Overall, I thought you did a really nice job on your blog in an interesting and thoughtful way!
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