America’s first vampire was Black and revolutionary – it's time to remember him
In April of 1819, a London periodical, the New Monthly Magazine, published The Vampyre: A Tale by Lord Byron. Notice of its publication quickly appeared in papers in the United States.
Byron was at the time enjoying remarkable popularity and this new tale, supposedly by the famous poet, caused a sensation as did its reprintings in Boston’s Atheneum (15 June) and Baltimore’s Robinson’s Magazine (26 June).
The Vampyre did away with the East European peasant vampire of old. It took this monster out of the forests, gave him an aristocratic lineage and placed him into the drawing rooms of Romantic-era England. It was the first sustained fictional treatment of the vampire and completely recast the folklore and mythology on which it drew.
By July, Byron’s denial of authorship was being reported and by August the true author was discovered, John Polidori.
In the meantime, an American response, The Black Vampyre: A Legend of St. Domingo, by one Uriah Derick D’Arcy, appeared. D'Arcy explicitly parodies The Vampyre and even suggests that Lord Ruthven, Polidori’s British vampire aristocrat, had his origins in the Carribean. A later reprinting in 1845 attributed The Black Vampyre to a Robert C Sands; however, many believe the author was more likely a Richard Varick Dey (1801–1837), a near anagram of the named author.
What is so remarkable about this story is that it is an anti-slavery narrative from the early 1800s which also contains America’s first vampire who is Black. It is also perhaps the first short story to advocate the emancipation of slaves, released 14 years before Lydia Child published An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans, which is widely considered the first anti-slavery book.
Surprisingly, this ground-breaking text is relatively unknown, even in Gothic circles. It appears in none of the seminal histories of the vampire, for example, and is not included in any of the classic and recent collections of vampire short fiction. There is one online edition, a labour of love, excellently prepared, to enable the teaching of the text by the Americans, Ed White and Duncan Faherty.
A mixed union
The Black Vampyre also explores the idea of mixed marriage at a time when interracial love was deemed taboo.
Darcy’s narrative begins with a slave-owner Mr Personne, in what is now Haiti repeatedly trying to kill a 10-year-old slave. As much as he tries though the corpse keeps reviving. Personne orders the child to be burned but the boy moves with supernatural speed and miraculously causes the slave-owner to be flung into the fire instead. Before Mr Personne dies, his wife informs him that the cradle of their unbaptised son is empty apart from his skin, bones, and nails.
Some years later we return to Personne’s widow, Euphemia, who is in mourning for her third husband. She is visited by two strangers, an extremely handsome Black man, dressed as a Moorish prince, accompanied by a pale European boy. He charms her with his elegance and beauty and rapidly wins her hand in marriage, which takes place that evening. That same night he reveals that he is a vampire and converts Euphemia to his bloodthirsty set.
Monsters aside, Published in 1819, an interracial marriage would have made for shocking reading – not to mention between a former slave and his one-time mistress.
Vampirish children
Married to a monster and now a monster herself (in the eyes of society too), Euphemia learns that the prince’s pale young companion is her vanished son – now also a vampire. The prince gives the boy named Zemba back to Euphemia along with her first husband’s money so they can escape to Europe.
On their way, they find themselves in a cavern with a group of noble-looking vampires and a crowd of slaves. The prince addresses the crowd in the language of revolutionary Enlightenment:
Our fetters discarded, and our chains dissolved, we shall stand liberated, – redeemed, – emancipated, – and disenthralled by the irresistible genius of UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION!!
This draws on the then recent Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), which ended slavery and French control of the colony. The vampires, like the slaves, are forced to exist on the fringes of society and so are rebelling against their lot in life. However, unlike Haiti’s, the rebellion is thwarted by a group of soldiers and the vampires are staked to death.
Luckily Euphemia and Zemba escape, sipping a potion that can restore a vampire to the human state. They go on to lead a happy family life, Zemba is finally baptised as Barabbas and life goes on. That is until Euphemia gives birth to a mixed-race son (presumably the prince’s) with “vampirish propensities”. This is the first instance of a mixed-race vampire ever recorded in literature.
The Black Vampyre will be celebrated in a special event at the Being Human Festival on November 14. Important for being the first American vampire text and for depicting the first Black vampire in literature, The Black Vampyre has a contemporary resonance. The racism cultivated by slavery lives on; the struggle against it and the dreams of universal humanity expressed in the Haitian Revolution continues. The links The Black Vampyre makes between racial oppression and a vampiric society, though ambivalent, make its resurrection worthwhile. The crude goriness and spookiness of Gothic vampire narratives can still have an ethical force.
Sam George, Associate Professor of Research, University of Hertfordshire
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Witch Crafts - DIY Yule Log
Oh well, sometimes simple elegance is best.
Witch Crafts - DIY Pine Cone Wish Ornament
Pine cones are a wonderful holiday craft medium.
You can make all kinds of ornaments and holiday decor with them, and if you live in an area full of pine trees you can get them for free.
Pine's metaphysical properties include new beginnings, prosperity, strength, grounding, & growth so they also make a wonderful item to use for witch crafts.
During the Yule season, we often reflect upon our blessings & misfortunes of the year and set goals for the coming new year.
Use the pine cone to set your goals and wishes.
Grab a piece of parchment or regular paper and cut into small strips. Write down wishes, goals, and hopes for the new year.
Roll up the wishes and stick them into the pine cones.
Burn your wish cones on Yule, the Winter Solstice, December 21 as an alternative to your Yule log or in addition to your log. This releases your wishes to the universe.
If you don't want to burn your cones, or can't burn your cones, you can hang them on your Yule tree or place them on your altar as a reminder of the wishes you set.
If you are not burning them you can add fun decorations like glitter and charms to them. Even add herbs like cinnamon and cloves for love and prosperity and crystals like carnelian, sunstone, and orange calcite for festivity.
Save your cones and next year on Yule open up the wishes up and reflect on what came true and what you still need to work for. Add new wishes for the following year.
I'll have a bonfire on Yule and my family members will all be adding our cones to the fire, so nothing fancy was added to them.
But I think I might make one for the tree and fancy it up, just to see how cute they can be.
Queen’s Ascension Blood Prophecy Book Three by Barb Jones ~ Deck the Halls with Books Holiday Extravaganza
HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS MOVIES WITH TEENS
Whether you look forward to the presents, the cookies, the food, the music, there is one part of Christmas that also stands out. Yes – THE CHRISTMAS MOVIES! No Christmas season would be complete without the movies. I’m not really talking about the Hallmark Christmas Movies, but the movies that can be seen with the whole family, all ages, for a night of laughter and fun. I mean, who doesn’t like Buddy the Elf, for one?
Take for example, a family with teens (that’s me!). It is hard nowadays to pull them away for baking cookies, decorating the tree, all those holiday memories that they participated in when they were smaller. That time has been replaced with technology, video games, social media, you name it. Let’s be honest here. Not many teens nowadays want to bake cookies but they will be the first in line to take a cookie fresh out of the oven.
But one thing I can count on in spending time with my teens during Christmas is watching Christmas Movies. Not all, but certain ones. Buddy the Elf, for example, brings forth a sense of humor, comedy antics and his high level of energy that will engage the teens as well as the rest of the family. I put Buddy the Elf on at least once a Christmas season and my teens will curl up on the couch, with iPhones in their hand, but mostly they are watching and laughing. I even had my oldest text her friends about the funny scenes and soon, one after another, asked to come over to watch it with us. To me, it’s not about keeping the same traditions as your child grows, but to find ones that still warm them up to the holidays. The other movie that is a hit is Nightmare Before Christmas! With these two, we have always had so much fun keeping the Christmas spirit alive!
I will still bake the cookies, decorate the house, even if I do it by myself or with my mother. But the one tradition I can keep in my heart as my teens continue to grow up is a Christmas Movie. The key is to find that one movie or two that they will laugh at, they will love, and no matter how much time is spent on the movie, you are together with them and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. I know this year will be different. Not a lot of people can gather in one place, but there are creative ways to go about this. I already told my daughter to set up a watch party for her friends when we turn on Buddy the Elf! I will even deliver Christmas cookies to her friends so the only thing they are missing is being in the same room with us!
In fact, I am enclosing a chocolate bark recipe to make that teens will love!
Ingredients:
Ghirardelli’s Dark or Milk
Chocolate (4 oz at least)
Ghirardelli’s White Chocolate (4
oz at least)
*Miscellaneous toppings of your choice (I use broken candy cane pieces, sprinkles, etc.)
Directions:
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Melt Dark or Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate. I prefer to melt in a pot compared to the
microwave. Use a double boiler if you
have one. You want it to be smooth and
creamy, fully melted.
3. Pour the dark/milk chocolate over the parchment paper.
4. Drizzle the white chocolate over the chocolate.
5. Using a toothpick, swirl the white chocolate into the
dark/milk chocolate.
6. Decorate the top as you desire.
7. Place in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes. Longer is sometimes necessary.
8. Once hardened, break into pieces.
*Serve this with a tasty chex mix
snack on the side! The combination of
flavors will be a hit – My teens take a bite of bark then a handful of chex
mix!
Blood Prophecy
Book Three
Barb Jones
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: World Castle
Excerpt:
Malakai, Seattle, Present Day
With the betterment of both Michael and Rae, Malakai was glad that they were well and fine; nevertheless, he needed some time to decompress. All the magical commotions that had occurred were too overwhelming for him. He needed some sort of release.
He enjoyed the brisk jog in the park, as he cut through the sharp wind of the cold night. But this did nothing to lift his spirits. He was happy that Amber’s smile finally met her eyes. That was all he’d ever wanted for her: happiness, that’s it. There was nothing more he could ask for—she was his priority. Yet, in the back of his mind, as in his heart, he couldn’t help but believe the ancient legend that he’d heard so long ago was the certifiable truth, as it was written in Eschmun’s scroll.
…her fate is tied to the true alpha of the wolves. A blood drinker will stand formidable, but it is the nature of the child to call upon the true alpha and bring him to the queen’s inner heart.
Could this be the truth? he often wondered as he traveled the world collecting artifacts and evidence supporting this notion. Yes, he’d crafted a reliquary, quite accidentally, and people assumed it was to keep the magic insulated, away from the humans. But that wasn’t the case, at least not for him. He so wanted to believe, just from the sheer fact that it was said in the scroll. But Malakai was a man of logic, driven by cold hard data. Although wanting to romanticize that his destiny was tied with Amber’s, he needed confirmation. He wanted validation for the strong emotions he was feeling.
***
Zaraquel, Seattle, Present Day
Walking the cemetery grounds as she so often did without the knowledge of her parents, Zaraquel wandered at a leisurely pace. She whipped out her phone and checked the time, which read midnight. Her brow quirked in confusion, as she had expected Loquiel some time ago. With her long hair styled in two braids and her bright red coat to keep her warm, she sat down on a bench.
She was elated that her best friend, other than the one that was currently running late, was alive and breathing. Rae had given Zaraquel a terrible fright, for she had never known the death of someone close to her heart. She shook, not from the cold, but from remembering the tragic vision she had of Rae’s demise.
A throaty growl awoke her from her thoughts. She heard the fast footfalls of someone, something, running toward her, and she put her fight training to use. Zaraquel spun around, so much so that her wings unfurled. But that did not deter the undead man from attacking her. His decaying flesh was a sight she instantly wished she could unsee, but she had to fulfill her duty and protect the people, which meant ridding the world of this monster.
She punched him in the stomach as her father had taught her, but that did nothing to stop him from throwing his fists at her. She dodged his poor attempts at aiming for her and grabbed his arm, twisting him around so he fell to his knees. Her weight on his back caused the corpse to fall to the ground. It growled in anger, shaking its head savagely, as if it couldn’t wait to get back to its feet. Zaraquel, however, had plans of her own. She stood briefly to step on his neck to keep him from moving, and whispered a spell she’d learned from a book.
“Capite obtruncato intestinisque extractis.”
She heard the cracking of his bones, the stretching of his skin; with a pop! his head flew off, gore spattering in every direction. His body went limp, as it was before he had risen from the ground.
Zaraquel sighed in frustration as she walked off, disappointed from another unnecessary and unjustified kill. She continued to walk the grounds and felt a rush of warm wind, the kind she felt every time Loquiel was near. She turned and there he was, right behind her.
Then, the idea for The Blood Prophecy came while she was sleeping. In a dream, Barb saw a unique storyline involving all the races and an epic battle of good versus evil. It was a modern-day plot with a three-thousand-year-old prophecy, The Blood Prophecy. Barb finished the first book in 2014, The Queen's Destiny. Two years later, she released The Queen's Enemy, and the third book in the series, The Queen's Ascension, arrives on August 17, 2020.
She is not only a paranormal thriller author but an IT professional and mother of two fantastic children. Today, she resides in Florida but is still a Seattle girl at heart.
Witch Crafts - DIY Yule Witch Balls
Yule Witch Balls are also known as Blessing Balls.
They follow the same principle as jar spells and
witch bottles but they get dressed up to look prettier for the holidays and
often focus on something positive for your home or the person you are giving
them to, like prosperity, protection, fertility, etc.
Witch Balls are most often used for protection
against negativity, evil spells, harmful spirits, and sickness.
Traditionally they were hung in the windows of homes
and barns, often an east facing window where they could catch the morning
light, but you can hang them anywhere including on your Yule tree.
They are a wonderful craft to make with family and
friends.
All you need are clear holiday ball ornaments, glass
or plastic, and a bunch of witchy craft supplies.
Gather bits and piece of items to include in your
balls like dried herbs, glitter, feathers, sea shells, small bits of crystals, cinnamon
sticks, ribbons, beads, charms, twine, and string, and tiny holiday accessories
like glitter snowflakes, pine needles, moss, and dried berries…everything just
has to be small enough to fit in the opening of the ornament.
Some people also write intentions on a small piece
of parchment paper, roll it up, and place it in the ball.
You can’t do this wrong.
You can seal the ornaments with glue or wax
drippings. Wrap them with string, twine, or ribbon and adorn them with beads or
charms.
Here are some corresponding items for different
types of witch balls.
Prosperity:
Shredded Bits of Play Money or a folded
Dollar Bill
Bay leaf
Basil
Chamomile
Clover
Green, Silver or Gold Glitter
Cinnamon
Cloves
Patchouli
Ginger
Amethyst
To Focus on Prosperity in the New Year add:
Cinnamon Stick
Pine Needles
Juniper Berries
Cloves
Love:
Allspice
Catnip
Lavender
Peppermint
Heart-shaped Cutouts
Pink or Red Glitter
Rose Petals
Jasmine
Dried Lime Peels
Granulated Sugar
Chamomile
Daisy
Ginger
Mistletoe
Yarrow
Apple seeds
Pink (romantic love) or red
(passionate love) feathers
Paper hearts
Seashells
Crystals: Rose Quartz, Garnet, Moonstone, Red Agate
Creativity
and Inspiration:
Feathers
Sage
Tobacco Leaf
Birch Bark
Peppermint
Symbols of your artistry such as
paintbrush tips, crayons, or colored thread
Crystals: Clear Quartz, Lapis
Lazuli, Jade, Flourite, Tiger’s Eye
Apple Blossom
Lavender
Barley
Comfrey
Eucalyptus
Fennel
Chamomile
Allspice
Olive
Rosemary
Rue
Sandalwood
Wintergreen
Peppermint
Vetiver
Allspice
Cedar
Cinnamon
Ginger
Mugwort
Nettle
Crystals: Obsidian,
Amber, Amazonite, Larimar, Amethyst
Festivity:
3 Vanilla Bean Pods
Whole Allspice
Dried Tangerine or Orange Peels
Sprig of Pine
Crystals: Carnelian, Orange Calcite, Sunstone
Family Peace:
Lavender buds
2 Sprigs of Thyme
Dried Cilantro
Rose Buds
Crystals: Rose Quartz , Clear Quartz, Selenite, Smoky Quartz
Anise
Bay Leaf
Geranium
Clary Sage
Angelica
Basil
Bay Leaf
Clove
Coconut
Holly
Rose
Crystals: Black
Tourmaline, Onyx, Obsidian, Labradorite
Grounding:
Sandlewood
Patchouli
Myrrh
Clary Sage
Frankincense
Black Tourmaline
Before crafting you can call a circle to protect your magic.
You can also put your intent into
the creation of the ornaments.
You may even say a little incantation over them as you work.
Something like:
Magic
shall come today
To
bring blessings my way
Magic
to hang on the Yule tree
As
I will it, so it shall be