Southern-Spirits-Top-Banner-Icon
Lucky-Mojo-Home-Page-Icon
Home
Page
Lucky-Mojo-Forum-Icon
Read Our
Forums
Lucky-Mojo-Join-Newsletter-Icon
Join Our
Newsletter
Lucky-Mojo-Radio-Show-Icon
Radio
Show
LMC-Radio-Network-Icon
LMC
Network
Lucky-Mojo-and-Missionary-Independent-Spiritual-Church-Books-Icon
LMCCo
Publishing
Catherine-Yronwodes-Hoodoo-Rootwork-Correspondence-Course-Icon
Hoodoo
Course
Hoodoo-in-Theory-and-Practice-Free-Online-Book-Icon
Practical
Conjure
Tantra-Karezza-Sacred-Sex-Icon
Sacred
Sex
Lucky-W-Amulet-Archive-Icon
Lucky W
Amulets
Blues-Music-and-Hoodoo-Icon
Hoodoo &
The Blues
Sacred-Landscape-Icon
Sacred
Landscape

SUPPLEMENTARY TRANSCRIPTIONS
for
HOODOO IN THEORY AND PRACTICE
by catherine yronwode
and
HOODOO ROOTWORK CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
by catherine yronwode

Missionary-Independent-Spiritual-Churches-Hoodoo-Heritage-Festival-Workshops-Icon
Hoodoo
Workshops
Lucky-Mojo-Facebook-Page-Icon
Be a Fan:
Facebook
Lucky-Mojo-Complete-Inventory-Icon
Online
Shopping
Lucky-Mojo-My-Shopping-Cart-Icon
View Your
Cart
AIRR-Readers-and-Rootworkers-Website-Icon
Readers &
Rootworkers
Hoodoo-Psychics-Icon
Hoodoo
Psychics
Crystal-Silence-League-Icon
We Pray
For You
Free-Spells-Archive-Icon
Free
Spells
Spiritual-Spells-Icon
Southern
Spirits
Candle-Services-at-the-Missionary-Independent-Spiritual-Church-Icon
Candle
Ministry
Herb-Magic-Icon
Herb
Magic
YIPPIE-Icon
Yronwode
Institution

introduction | 19th century hoodoo | 20th century hoodoo | 21st century hoodoo

Lucky-Mojo-Pookline

JAMES BYRD, ALBERT SPAULDING, BERRY JOHNSON:
THE JOMO IN FLORIDA

Interview by Stetson Kennedy; recording by Robert Cook (August 19, 1939)

This is an extract from the original transcription notes accompanying a recording ("Record 7") made on August 19, 1939 in the office of the Aycock & Lindsey turpentine camp, Cross City, Florida. It is part of the Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections at the Library of Congress. The interview was conducted by Stetson Kennedy; the "operator" of the recrding machine was Roert Cook. The transcription summary, uncredited, was probably written by Kennedy.

The complete record contains three songs and some talking not relatd to conjure, transcriptions for which which is not included here. First, James Griffin sings two songs: "Worked All Summer Long" and "Right Back in Jain Again," then the members of The Dixie Four, a male quartet, are introduced: Ire Smith, age 28; L. G. Arnold, 25 Doc Choice, 34; S. T. Tatum, 26. They sing a jook joint song, "Poor Stranger Blues" and answer questions about jook joints. The final portion of the record concerns the jomo charm, a regional term for a mojo bag.

Because the interview subject used terms unfamiliar to modern readers and employed spellings not commonly found in the literature of hoodoo, a few explanatory notes have been added [in brackets].

James Byrd Jomo text

James Byrd, Negro turpentine worker, Cross City, Florida, age 30, gives a description of "JOE MOW," a good luck item usually including a lodestone, which is said to be helpful in winning at gambling games.

[Jomo is also variously spelled Joe Moore, jomoo, and joomoo -- and this definition is incomplete, for not all jomo charms contain lodestone and not all are used for luck in gambling. In fact, the term "jomo work" can also refer to harmful magical spells performed by an evil "jomo man"]

Says James: "When you don't have a Joe Mow, there ain't nothin you can do. A Joe Mow is usually sumpum nother fixed up in a bag. You keep it in your right pocket, and rub it often.

Albert Spaulding, white, age 21, assistant manager of the commissary of a large turpentine camp, Cross City, Florida, tells of a Negro worker coming to the commissary and purchasing three eight-penny nails and a new paper bag to make a Joe Mow to keep under his pillow to keep the witches away.

[The use of nails in a jomo is quite old. You can see a 1930s advertisement for an "Old Conjure Man's Hand" containg nails at the "Hoodoo in Theory and Practice" page on Mojo Hands. "To keep the witches away" by means of a charm under the pillow is another way of saying that this jomo is intened to protct afgainst hag-riding.]

James Byrd resumes his discussion of hants [haints: ghosts, spirits] and Joe Mows. He says that good Joe Mows must be ordered from Louisiana or Mississippi. Says that some are made by Negro workers at the turpentine camp, and sold for $2 each; but he doesn't believe in that kind.

Berry Johnson, Negro turpentine worker of Cross City, Florida, discusses ghosts and Joe Mows. (His voice may be identified by its stuttering.) Says he believes in the "spiritual kind" of ghosts. Reports being able to see ghosts "out there" most any time.

Reports that some Negroes at the turpentine camp sew up a corn cob in a piece of red flannel and call it a Joe Mow. It is worn around the waist, neck, or in the right pocket.

(His discussion continued on Record 8) [I have not been able to locate a transcription of Record 8.]

This material is reprinted from

The Library of Congress

Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections

accessed September 4th, 2006 at

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/flwpa:@field(DOCID+tt0026)#tt00260001


Search All Lucky Mojo and Affiliated Sites!

You can search our sites for a single word (like archaeoastronomy, hoodoo, conjure, or clitoris), an exact phrase contained within quote marks (like "love spells", "spiritual supplies", "occult shop", "gambling luck", "Lucky Mojo bag", or "guardian angel"), or a name within quote marks (like "Blind Willie McTell", "Black Hawk", "Hoyt's Cologne", or "Frank Stokes"):

Pookline-for-the-Southern-Spirits

Contact-the-Southern-Spirits-Website copyright © 1994-2021 catherine yronwode. All rights reserved.
Send your comments to: cat yronwode.
Did you like what you read here? Find it useful?
Then please click on the Paypal Secure Server logo and make a small
donation to catherine yronwode for the creation and maintenance of this site.

Pookline-for-the-Southern-Spirits-Website

Lucky-Mojo-Sponsor-Banner-for-the-Southern-Spirits-Website

Pookline-for-the-Southern-Spirits-Website

Old-Tomb-Postcard-Icon-for-the-Southern-Spirits-Website-by-catherine-yronwode
This website is part of a large domain that is organized into a number of
interlinked web sites, each with its own distinctive theme and look.
You are currently reading
SOUTHERN SPIRITS by cat yronwode
.

Here are some other LUCKY MOJO web sites you can visit:

OCCULTISM, MAGIC SPELLS, MYSTICISM, RELIGION, SYMBOLISM
Hoodoo in Theory and Practice by cat yronwode: an introduction to African-American rootwork
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic by cat yronwode:a materia magica of African-American conjure
Lucky W Amulet Archive by cat yronwode: an online museum of worldwide talismans and charms
Sacred Sex: essays and articles on tantra yoga, neo-tantra, karezza, sex magic, and sex worship
Sacred Landscape: essays and articles on archaeoastronomy and sacred geometry
Freemasonry for Women by cat yronwode: a history of mixed-gender Freemasonic lodges
The Lucky Mojo Esoteric Archive: captured internet text files on occult and spiritual topics
Lucky Mojo Usenet FAQ Archive:FAQs and REFs for occult and magical usenet newsgroups
Aleister Crowley Text Archive: a multitude of texts by an early 20th century occultist
Lucky Mojo Magic Spells Archives: love spells, money spells, luck spells, protection spells, and more
      Free Love Spell Archive: love spells, attraction spells, sex magick, romance spells, and lust spells
      Free Money Spell Archive: money spells, prosperity spells, and wealth spells for job and business
      Free Protection Spell Archive: protection spells against witchcraft, jinxes, hexes, and the evil eye
      Free Gambling Luck Spell Archive: lucky gambling spells for the lottery, casinos, and races

POPULAR CULTURE
Hoodoo and Blues Lyrics: transcriptions of blues songs about African-American folk magic
EaRhEaD!'S Syd Barrett Lyrics Site: lyrics by the founder of the Pink Floyd Sound
The Lesser Book of the Vishanti: Dr. Strange Comics as a magical system, by cat yronwode
The Spirit Checklist: a 1940s newspaper comic book by Will Eisner, indexed by cat yronwode
Fit to Print: collected weekly columns about comics and pop culture by cat yronwode
Eclipse Comics Index: a list of all Eclipse comics, albums, and trading cards

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence Course with cat yronwode: 52 weekly lessons in book form
Hoodoo Conjure Training Workshops: hands-on rootwork classes, lectures, and seminars
Apprentice with catherine yronwode: personal 3-week training for qualified HRCC graduates
Lucky Mojo Community Forum: an online message board for our occult spiritual shop customers
Lucky Mojo Hoodoo Rootwork Hour Radio Show: learn free magic spells via podcast download
Lucky Mojo Videos: see video tours of the Lucky Mojo shop and get a glimpse of the spirit train
Lucky Mojo Publishing: practical spell books on world-wide folk magic and divination
Lucky Mojo Newsletter Archive: subscribe and receive discount coupons and free magick spells
LMC Radio Network: magical news, information, education, and entertainment for all!
Follow Us on Facebook: get company news and product updates as a Lucky Mojo Facebook Fan

ONLINE SHOPPING
The Lucky Mojo Curio Co.: spiritual supplies for hoodoo, magick, witchcraft, and conjure
Herb Magic: complete line of Lucky Mojo Herbs, Minerals, and Zoological Curios, with sample spells
Mystic Tea Room Gift Shop: antique, vintage, and contemporary fortune telling tea cups

PERSONAL SITES
catherine yronwode: the eclectic and eccentric author of many of the above web pages
nagasiva yronwode: nigris (333), nocTifer, lorax666, boboroshi, Troll Towelhead, !
Garden of Joy Blues: former 80 acre hippie commune near Birch Tree in the Missouri Ozarks
Liselotte Erlanger Glozer: illustrated articles on collectible vintage postcards
Jackie Payne: Shades of Blues: a San Francisco Bay Area blues singer

ADMINISTRATIVE
Lucky Mojo Site Map: the home page for the whole Lucky Mojo electron-pile
All the Pages: descriptive named links to about 1,000 top-level Lucky Mojo web pages
How to Contact Us: we welcome feedback and suggestions regarding maintenance of this site
Make a Donation: please send us a small Paypal donation to keep us in bandwidth and macs!

OTHER SITES OF INTEREST
Arcane Archive: thousands of archived Usenet posts on religion, magic, spell-casting, mysticism, and spirituality
Association of Independent Readers and Rootworkers: psychic reading, conjure, and hoodoo root doctor services
Candles and Curios: essays and articles on traditional African American conjure and folk magic, plus shopping
Crystal Silence League: a non-denominational site; post your prayers; pray for others; let others pray for you
Gospel of Satan: the story of Jesus and the angels, from the perspective of the God of this World
Hoodoo Psychics: connect online or call 1-888-4-HOODOO for instant readings now from a member of AIRR
Missionary Independent Spiritual Church: spirit-led, inter-faith; prayer-light services; Smallest Church in the World
Mystic Tea Room: tea leaf reading, teacup divination, and a museum of antique fortune telling cups
Satan Service: an archive presenting the theory, practice, and history of Satanism and Satanists
Southern Spirits: 19th and 20th century accounts of hoodoo, including ex-slave narratives & interviews
Spiritual Spells: lessons in folk magic and spell casting from an eclectic Wiccan perspective, plus shopping
Yronwode Home: personal pages of catherine yronwode and nagasiva yronwode, magical archivists
Yronwode Institution: the Yronwode Institution for the Preservation and Popularization of Indigenous Ethnomagicology


Southern-Spirits-Pookline