In American Horror Story: Coven, Marie Laveau is depicted as a powerful voodoo queen that could kill without ever leaving the comfort of her workplace. In Season: A Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Laveau intertwines with a rather mysterious force whose past interacts with the protagonist. However, in Voodoo Queen: The Spirited Lives of Marie Laveau, Martha Ward paints a different picture of Laveau, telling the story of an independent black woman who struggled to live in a time of oppression. Marie Laveau played an influential part in New Orleans’s history, and had an alluring presence that influenced authors and artists for decades.

Marie Laveau was born in September 10, 1801 in New Orleans. When she was older, she married Jacques Paris, an immigrant who managed to escape the Haitian massacre. However, after unknown reasons, Jacques left her life. She started working as a hairdresser, serving many wealthy white women in New Orleans while also acting as a confidant. She was also said to have helped with nursing, and comforted those on death row. She later remarried a man named Louis Christophe Dumesnil de Glapion, and when he died, she had 15 children. 

While there isn’t much information known about Laveau’s life, it’s true that she was a devoted Voodoo practitioner. She commanded the attention of New Orleans with a mixture of theatrical flair and her own magic. She was said to have brought fortune upon her clients, saved men from being executed, and even participated in possessions. However, she was also Catholic, and as such, combined Voodoo beliefs with Christianity. As a result, this made her practice more welcome to those of the upper class. Because of her diligence, she soon garnered a reputation for herself as New Orleans’s very own Voodoo Queen. 

Despite this, skeptics have said that the Laveau’s powers were due to the informants she had across the city. They point out her time as a hairdresser, and that she used their secrets to bolster her reputation. Still, many dared not offend her. She later retired in her house on Saint Ann Street, where she continued her work. She eventually died on June 15th, 1881. 

Even then, Marie Laveau left a mark on society. It’s said that her grave draws many tourists to New Orleans every year, specifically the Voodoo Vault, where visitors go to get their wishes granted by Laveau’s spirit. Many have dedicated themselves to visiting the site, where offerings would be made to the dead Queen, such as Mardi Gras beads, or flowers, or candles. 

Marie Laveau was a powerful woman who was charismatic enough to make a name for herself in New Orleans, as well as giving herself a prominent place in society. She was a fearsome woman who had managed to command the respect of both men and women alike, not just for her supposed powers, but also for her independence and courage. She continues to be admired, as well as being inspirational today, years after her death.