The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NO CAN DO} VOODOO

A FRIEND OF MY FAMILY (NAME WITHHELD ON REQUEST)
IS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT.
FOR ONE OF HIS ARRESTS HE HAD TO TRAVEL TO A
PREDOMINANTLY NEGRO SECTION OF THE CITY.
WHEN HE GOT TO THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE IN QUESTION
THE MAN TO BE ARRESTED ANSWERED. AFTER LEARNING
HE WAS TO BE ARRESTED THE MAN AGREED TO GO,
BUT EXPLAINED THAT HE COULD NOT WALK PAST THE DOOR
NOW BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD PUT A CURSE ON HIM AND HE
COULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE VOODOO DUST WAS SPRINKLED THERE.
OUR FRIEND LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THERE CERTAINLY
WAS SOME DUST LIKE MATERIAL SPRINKLED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR.
HE BENT DOWN AND BRUSHED THE DUST AWAY AND SAID TO THE
WAITING MAN, "OKAY, YOU CAN COME OUT NOW, THE CURSE IS BROKEN".
AT THAT THE MAN AGREED AND WALKED OUT ON THE PORCH
TO BE ARRESTED. BUT HE WOULD NOT CROSS THE LINE OF DUST
BEFORE THIS, EVEN TO BE ARRESTED.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: NOT GIVEN