Cynthia Erivo Isn’t The First Black Witch

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” – Psalm 46:5. 

Cynthia Erivo's spellbinding performance in Wicked hits home as Elphaba is ostracized because of her green skin. It took roughly four hours a day to be painted green, giving Erivo time to reflect on what it meant for her, a queer Black woman with a Catholic background, to play this role. 

Erivo believes God makes people intentionally as they’re meant to be. Religions rooted in anti-Black policing are dangerous because they limit our ability to embrace the vastness of our faith.

Erivo continues, “I think the main rule that we’re all supposed to follow is to love one another.” 

Erivo reminds Black women and girls everywhere to love the skin they’re in, and to never let anyone make them doubt their magic. 

And she’s not the first Black witch to do so. 

Throughout history Vodou queens, Obeah women, and herbalists have used their magic to protect our community from anti-Blackness and incite revolution. 

Every Black woman who has ever lived has had to defy gravity. At the heart of this sacred defiance is the refusal to be erased. 

Erivo reminds us that whether you're Black or green, queer or straight, religious or spiritual, your magic is in daring to be seen exactly as Spirit made you.