How Hollywood stole the zombie from Haiti
Summary
Hosts Gene Demby and B.A. Parker discuss the origins of the zombie with Maya Anik Bedward, director of the documentary *Black Zombie*. They explore how the zombie was stolen from Haitian Vodou, where it symbolizes eternal slavery, and repackaged by Hollywood into a flesh-eating monster. The conversation traces this cultural extraction from *White Zombie* to *Night of the Living Dead*, arguing that modern zombie films often dehumanize migrants and reinforce racist stereotypes against Haiti.
Topics discussed
Intro and sponsor read
Hosts discuss horror monster preferences
The 1932 film White Zombie and its legacy
Introduction to the documentary Black Zombie
Sponsor announcements
Zombies in Haitian Vodou and the afterlife
Director Maya Anik Bedward's background and motivation
Haiti's history of punishment and current events
From William Seabrook to Night of the Living Dead
Modern zombie films and the need for context
Why Get Out is a true zombie film
Dehumanization in zombie hordes vs. real-world migration
Vodou's role in the Haitian Revolution
US occupation and the demonization of Vodou
Navigating extraction and ethical filmmaking
Outro and production credits
Sponsor announcements
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