American Schools

[selah_1977]

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No: HPFGUIDX C5908
From: selah_1977
Subject: Re: American Schools
Reply To: [Yahoo! #5890] Re: American Schools (was:Hats - lateste
Date: 8/5/00 8:12 pm  (ET)

Catlady wrote:

"But in my theory: all the African traditions of wizarding are in
Africa. The African wizard folk used their magic to avoid being captured
by slavers, and -- with the disrespect for Muggles that we have seen so
much of in British wizard folk -- felt no need to travel to the New World
to help out their Muggle co-racialists. Thus, Afro-Diasporic wizard folk
descend from people who were Muggle-born mages in the New World."

Did you know there is a definite basis for this theory in African
American folklore?

In our oral tradition, there is talk of the Flying People--as a matter
of fact, that particular folktale is the anchor of an award winning
children's anthology by Virginia Hamilton, "The People Could Fly".

The Muggle explanation that I give my students for the people who flew
away from bondage or actually disappeared (think Apparation) is that it
describes those who successfully used the Underground Railroad. I also
tell them that Af-Am lit is very symbolic--successful survival of the
institution of slavery required secrecy and subterfuge.

But it's kind of cool to think of it in relation to an HP theory. I also
like the idea of the Louisiana schools, and Native American schools--one
in Montana, the other somewhere in New Mexico near Roswell. <g>

There also must be a Mesoamerican school, too, in Mexico--one that is
just as old or older than Hogwarts. First the Toltec Wizards sent their
children, then the Mayas--under the Aztecs, the school became entrenched
in the Dark Arts (although many fought it). I'm not too sure how the
Conquistadors would have effected it (a temporary shutdown?), but it
has been up and running during the 20th century.

Here's a theory of my own: there have to be magical Spanish and/or
Portuguese-speaking schools in the New World. Somehow, the Spanish
Inquisition was able to destroy the Iberian school with the aid of a
uberwizard like Voldemort.

That's why there is Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang--but no
Spanish/Portuguese equivalent. Spanish, Italian, Swiss students attend
Beauxbatons.

I also speculate that the wizards always knew about the existence of
one another worldwide. Imagine a wizard or witch on Leif Ericsson's or
Columbus' voyage trying to suppress their yawns.

Finally, wouldn't the oldest schools of wizardry be in China and in Egypt?

To Harry Potter--the Boy Who Lived!

Ebony AKA AngieJ