The Conjure Woman
(1899) by Charles W. Chesnutt is a collection of short stories set in the post-Civil War South. The tales are narrated by Uncle Julius, a formerly enslaved man, to a Northern white couple who have moved to North Carolina. Julius tells vivid, supernatural stories involving conjure (folk magic) and slavery, often blending humor, horror, and folklore.
Through these stories, Julius highlights the cruelty of slavery, the resilience of the enslaved, and the power of African American cultural traditions. At the same time, he often uses the tales to subtly influence the couple's decisions in ways that benefit him.
The collection is both a rich portrayal of African American folklore and a sharp commentary on race, memory, and power in Reconstruction-era America.