The Conjuring of America

Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women's Magic

By: Lindsey Stewart

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2025 | BookRiot's Best Books of 2025 | NPR's New Books to Read | Ms. Magazine's Most Anticipated Feminist Book

A crucial telling of U.S. history centering the Black women whose magic gave rise to the rich tapestry of American culture, wellness, and spirituality that we see today—from Vicks VapoRub and Aunt Jemima’s pancake mix, to the magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the all-American blue jean.

Emerging first on plantations in the American South, enslaved conjure women used their magic to treat illnesses. These women combined their ancestral spiritual beliefs from West Africa with local herbal rituals and therapeutic remedies to create conjure, forging a secret well of health and power hidden to their oppressors and many of the modern-day staples we still enjoy.

In The Conjuring of America, Black feminist philosopher Lindsey Stewart exposes this vital contour of American history. In the face of slavery, Negro Mammies fashioned a legacy of magic that begat herbal experts, fearsome water bearers, and powerful mojos—roles and traditions that for centuries have been passed down to respond to Black struggles in real time. And when Jim Crow was born, Granny Midwives and textile weavers leveled their techniques to protect our civil and reproductive rights, while Candy Ladies fed a generation of freedom crusaders.

Sourcing firsthand accounts the of enslaved, dispatches from the lore of Oshun, and the wisdom of beloved Black women writers, Stewart proves indisputably that conjure informs our lives in ways remarkable and ordinary. Above all, The Conjuring of America is a love letter to the magic Black women used to sow messages of rebellion, freedom, and hope.

Critic reviews

“Lindsey Stewart’s remarkable commitment and tireless research, combined with the breadth of her keen insight, pride, and understanding of her subject matter, are only part of what makes The Conjuring of America so powerful. This exploration of our shamefully ignored and dismissed history is a compelling and essential standout. Important and altogether unique, this read informs and transports as it ushers a glorious cast of influential Black women to life.”—Lucy Anne Hurston, sociologist, niece of Zora Neale Hurston, Speak, So You Can Speak Again

“With The Conjuring of America we welcome Lindsey Stewart to the table of hope, for her work is the deep, courage dive into the sea of lost truths. She recovers the critical treasures from the waters in her breathtaking honest and beautifully rendered new work. And we are the better for it.”—asha bandele, New York Times bestselling co-author of When They Call you a Terrorist and author of Daughter and The Prisoner’s Wife

“Lindsey Stewart's arrival on the scene is not only exciting and powerful, but necessary. Black and feminist history is shamefully incomplete; conjure women are vital parts of our foundation and fabric. I love this book. We need this book! Now more than ever.”—Patrisse Cullors, co-founder Black Lives Matter and New York Times bestselling author of When They Call You a Terrorist

“In The Conjuring of America, Lindsey Stewart offers nothing less than a rethinking of our national culture through the stories of 'conjure women.' When we talk about who and what has made our culture uniquely American, this essential story must be told, and Dr. Stewart does it with wisdom, erudition, and empathy.”—Jeff Chang, Ford fellow, historian, journalist and music critic, and author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop, Who We Be, and Water Mirror Echo

the indepth historical detail and time line of black women 's influence on America

I loved the readers voice the subject matter the empowering history of the black mother! the revolutionary history of black woman and the exposure of the inhumane unjust thievery and cruelty of white people that continues to be promoted today!

Enlightening

I love the narrators voice, inflection and speed in which she read this. Great information and sheds more light on topics that may have been traum for our culture.

The conjuring of America

Very informative and clear! She had really good examples and transitioned into other chapters easily.

Now I understand

I was raised in Brazil and one of the most important person in my young life was our nanny. She would have been first generation of free African slave. I watched her participate in Candomblé, use herbs to heal, and so much I learnt from your book now makes sense. Thank you for writing this book.

Yes yes yes!

The book we’ve been waiting for. Learn about your Grandma n nem! Learn about yourself. Thank you Dr. Stewart!