For many years, the Black witch has been a whisper within the background—casting spells that saved the day whereas getting not one of the credit score. She was the perfect good friend, the backstory, the one who knew one thing however was by no means allowed to do the whole lot. That period is over.
The Black witch is lastly stepping out of the shadows and into the highlight. And never simply any witch—our witches. Those who channel energy by rhythm and prayer, who carry their lineage of their locs, who perceive that rootwork is resistance. Let’s begin on the altar of the OGs.
Rachel True walked so the remainder of them may float. Her function as Rochelle in The Craft (1996) was a lesson in highschool magic and microaggressions, the place witchcraft turned her protection towards racial violence. Jessica Williams introduced regality to wand work in Improbable Beasts as Lally Hicks, although like a lot of her friends, she was underused in a world constructed for white whimsy. After which there was Kat Graham’s Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries—the most highly effective character on that present, but all the time handled like a magical Band-Assist. Bonnie’s Grams, performed by Jasmine Man, deserved her personal spinoff in a Southern gothic collection the place she ran a candle store and browse all people for filth.
Tati Gabrielle’s Prudence in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was Black witch supremacy wrapped in corset and cruelty. Jaz Sinclair’s Rosalind gave it gentle, intuitive divination. And let’s not neglect Twitches—a Black Disney basic with Tia and Tamera Mowry giving us twin flame realness and early 2000s spellbook couture.
Now, the Marvel universe is lastly catching the spirit. Sasheer Zamata’s Jennifer Kale in Agatha All Alongside is chaotic impartial with angle and energy. Regan Aliyah as Zelma Stanton in Ironheart provides librarian-by-day, dimension-hopper-by-night. Each usher in a brand new period: mystical Black ladies who aren’t simply wielding magic—they’re writing the principles.
“Black ladies have all the time been linked to the craft—whether or not as midwives, herbalists, or non secular protectors. My character in Agatha All Alongside faucets into that custom, utilizing potions and crops the identical means our moms and aunties did. It’s generational knowledge—like placing ginger in your abdomen or aloe on a reduce—and it’s been mislabeled as witchcraft for hundreds of years. Lots of Black ladies have been referred to as witches only for being ‘tough,’ for standing of their energy, or for realizing an excessive amount of. I like that we’re lastly seeing these ladies because the heroes they’ve all the time been.” mentioned Sasheer Zamata
We now have to be actual with ourselves for a minute. The rationale it took so lengthy for Black witches to bloom on display isn’t simply Hollywood’s fault. Christianity had a chokehold on Black imaginations for many years. So many people grew up considering something with spells, potions, or glowing arms was “satan work.” I do know individuals from the South who didn’t watch Harry Potter till they have been grown with youngsters. That claims so much about how deeply some beliefs dominated complete households. And sure, loads of Black people are nonetheless Christians—and that’s their enterprise. However it’s 2025. A few of us observe African spirituality, learn tarot, comply with the moon cycles and nonetheless know God. A lady and her deck of playing cards is not any enemy of mine—and she or he deserves to see herself within the supernatural, too.
As a result of illustration isn’t nearly workplace jobs and trauma plots, it’s about surprise. Energy. Seeing a strong Black lady channel the ancestors or shut a portal with nothing however her arms? That’s divinity too.
Angela Bassett’s Marie Laveau in American Horror Story confirmed us what righteous vengeance seems like. Ashley Madekwe’s Tituba in Salem reclaimed the title they tried to bury. Debbie Morgan’s Seer in Charmed carried realizing in her bones and Eartha Kitt’s Madame Zeroni in Holes taught us {that a} curse can journey by blood like a birthmark.
And now, Sinners has arrived—with Wunmi Mosaku’s Annie as the brand new patron saint of safety. She’s not only a hoodoo queen—she’s the auntie who doesn’t blink when the air will get heavy. The sort of lady who talks to the useless and nonetheless makes the perfect cornbread on the town. Annie is what occurs when generational magic meets millennial storytelling—and she or he proves that Black ladies don’t want a wand to be divine.
Black witches aren’t having a second—They are the second. And if the world is lastly catching on? Child, that’s simply the spell working.