Elsie Clews Parsons
Elsie Clews Parsons (1875–1941) was an influential American anthropologist, sociologist, and folklorist known for her pioneering work on African American, Caribbean, and Indigenous cultures. A progressive thinker and early feminist, Parsons challenged prevailing social norms and was deeply interested in gender roles, matriarchal societies, and cultural relativism. She conducted extensive fieldwork in the American Southwest and the Caribbean, especially in Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, documenting folklore, religious practices, and oral traditions. Her work helped bring attention to Afro-Caribbean spiritual systems, such as Vodou, and emphasized the richness and complexity of marginalized cultures. Parsons was also the first female president of the American Anthropological Association and a strong advocate for the inclusion of women and non-Western perspectives in academic research. Her scholarship helped lay the groundwork for modern cultural anthropology and the study of Caribbean societies.
Folk-Lore of the Antilles (1917)
Info: Folk-Lore of the Antilles (1917) by Elsie Clews Parsons is a foundational work in the study of Caribbean folklore, focusing on the rich traditions, myths, and cultural practices of the Antilles (specifically Haiti, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico). In this book, Parsons documents and analyzes the oral traditions of Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous peoples, shedding light on their beliefs, rituals, proverbs, and stories. She explores the influence of African heritage, European colonialism, and Indigenous cultures on Caribbean folklore, highlighting the resilience and creativity of these communities in preserving their cultural identity. Parsons’ work provides valuable insights into religion, spirituality, and the ways in which folklore serves as both a form of resistance and a means of cultural continuity in the face of colonization and oppression.