I wrote “hoodoo for 9 offenses (a little rock ritual)” in anticipation of performing at the 66th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s historic act of bravery at Central High School.

I was gifted a signed copy of Elizabeth Eckford’s book The Worst First Day: Bullied While Desegregating Central High and was moved by her and the other 8 teens’ sacrifice.

The poem begins with an epigraph that is a quote from Ms. Eckford: “My mother and I read one of the psalms seeking protection before I left home.”

Later, I met Ms. Elizabeth Eckford and she told me her mother was a Hoodoo woman!

We lift up mother Birdie Eckford, expert seamstress, mother and Hoodoo woman!

Enjoy the poem here: