Customer Reviews

Heritage of Power (Marie LaVeau/Mary Ellen Pleasant)

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Finally! a great book which does not sensationalize the Vodou religion. It dispells many of the myths that surround our most famous Queen, Marie LaVeau as well as giving new insight into her life. As a tour guide in New Orleans I find this book invaluable. It provides a concise outline of the tenets, beliefs, and practices of the Vodou religion and the life of Marie Laveau as well as her protege Mary Ellen Pleasant (mother of Civil Rights in California). The greatest feature of this book is its point of view. Previous authors have concentrated on Vodou as seen from a white-Eurocentric Christian backgound. This book comes to you without the dogma and predjudices. Extremely recommendable for all who study the occult and for those who want to get beyond the zombies and curses of Hollywood "pop" vodou and come to understand the nature of this accepting and benevolent religion.

The older books of Mary Pleasant by Holdredge and others sensationalized a life that can be important to all people. They clearly have distorted Pleasant's story. As Bibbs says, "She (Pleasant) could love across boundaries of race and class without losing sight of her goal." At last a book that is fair and impartial, that documents what it asserts instead of the sensationalism of the past, and that dispells myths about this woman. Anyone who upholds the older books needs to examine them more closely for continuity. BRAVO to Bibbs and Heritage of Power!

I for one, now can appreciate Pleasant and know why she is called "Mother of Civil Rights in California" and even a little more about why she was associated with voodoo and Marie LaVeau -- fascinating! It's amazing how people have clung to myths about this woman, when the truth is so fascinating.

This "book" is poorly written and poorly researched. This is a prime example of someone "whitewashing" the truth. Whites have done for so long and African-Americans are just following their example. Mary Ellen Pleasant was a weaver of great stories and a great con woman. "Voodoo" was just another tool in her bag of tricks that she used to manipulate very gullible people. Read Helen Holdrege's book for a really detailed chronicle of her life. Most African-Americans hate her book but they just can't handle the truth.