The Beautiful #BlackGirlMagic of Queen Sugar

The Beautiful #BlackGirlMagic of Queen Sugar May 4, 2018

Ava DuVernay photo by Disney/ABC Television Group. Licensed under CC 2.0

If you are not watching the television show Queen Sugar, you should be. A creation of the phenomenal Ava DuVernay, one of my favorite Black Female Filmmakers, the show’s Afrocentric focus and gripping storylines is just what many of us needed.

The first season of Queen Sugar introduces one of the main characters Nova Bordelon, played brilliantly by Rutina Wesley, as a spiritual and psychic practitioner. Located in the 9th ward of New Orleans, she performs traditional blessings and cleansings for the community. I find it interesting that this character is also the one who is primarily community minded, working as a journalist and a social justice champion. A piece at colorlines.com describes her : ” Rutina Wesley, the “True Blood” alumn plays the oldest sibling, Nova Borderlon. The character, which DuVernay created, is an investigative journalist, activist, healer and a dealer of a certain plant.”

Rutina Wesley image photo by Ronald Woan. Licensed under CC 2.0

Many of the viewers responded positively to the Rutina “the rootworker” character, and were hoping that the second season would bring more magic. Season 2 Episode 5 she performs a house blessing for her sister using sage, candles, prayer, and calm to “lift up” the space.  Unfortunately, not much time is given to the practices, and even less dialogue is given to what’s happening. I’m not sure if this is meant to be read as magick is just a part of everyday life, or positing magick as not worthy of explanation. I guess ultimately it’s just a good thing that some kind of practices can now be seen.

The Magick In The Music Of Queen Sugar

For many of us the magick is in the music. The show uses this to it’s advantage It was such a beautiful surprise to hear Ibeyi’s River in Series 2 Episode 9.

The lyrics call to the Orisha Oshun ( also known as Ochun, Ọṣun, and Oxum.)

Wamile Ọṣun, Ọṣun de de a la wede
O wemile Ọṣun, molo beledu ya luhte mo yewe deyo

We all sincerely hope Queen Sugar continues for many seasons to come. I for one want to know more about the magick. Not to mention I was born to eat biscuits and gravy all day at the High Yellow diner featured in the series. But all kidding aside, if Ms. DuVernay ever needs a #BlackGirlMagic consultant I’m right here. I graduated from NYU film school, and have over 25 experience as a Voodoo practitioner and psychic reader.

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About Lilith Dorsey
Lilith Dorsey M.A. , hails from many magickal traditions, including Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and Native American spirituality. Her traditional education focused on Plant Science, Anthropology, and Film at the University of R.I, New York University and the University of London, and her magickal training includes numerous initiations in Santeria also known as Lucumi, Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo.Lilith Dorsey is a Voodoo Priestess and in that capacity has been doing successful magick since 1991 for patrons, is editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water :Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation,’ choreographer/performer for jazz legend Dr. John’s “Night Tripper” Voodoo Show, and author of Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism, 55 Ways to Connect to Goddess, The African-American Ritual Cookbook, and Love Magic. You can read more about the author here.

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