From 1915 until 1934, the United States occupied the Caribbean nation of Haiti. When the US Marines returned home they brought with them stories of black magic, cannibalism, and zombies that started a trend in popular culture as represented in mass media and common belief. The beginning of the twentieth century sparked interest in the myth of the Haitian zombie and the first novels and movies were produced. Zora Neale Hurston was one of the first to begin research in the late 1930s while further investigation was carried out by Wade Davis in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Combined with other opinions, the research conducted by Zora Neale Hurston and Wade Davis pervades into numerous branches of study like biology, botany, psychology, psychopharmacology, anthropology, and religious studies. I seek to argue that furthered research of this practice within Haitian Vodou should cease due to the challenges already faced in the research and to avoid furthered exploitation of the Haitian people, culture, and religion that has been tainted with rumors of black magic.
