"Seein' is Believin "': Spiritualism among Civil War-Era Mississippian and South Carolinian Slaves

Authors

Westley Follett, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Former Slaves, Mississippi, South Carolina

Abstract

When asked if she believed in ghosts, Minerva Wells of Simpson County, Mississippi replied, "Ise lak my race, I jes' sorter can't help from a believing in haints jes' a little bit." For many former slaves such as Minerva, spiritualism (a belief in ghosts, spirits, and "haints"), superstition, and magic were accepted facts of life. They held a profound influence over the actions of believers and they also formed an integral part of the Southern slave culture.

Recommended Citation

Follett, Westley (1994) ""Seein' is Believin "': Spiritualism among Civil War-Era Mississippian and South Carolinian Slaves," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 23: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol23/iss1/6