Astrology, Faith, and the Search for Guidance in Black America, 1954
When readers picked up the May 6, 1954 issue of Jet Magazine, they held in their hands more than just a small, pocket-sized publication. They were opening a window into the conversations, concerns, and cultural debates taking place in African American communities during the mid-twentieth century. This particular issue featured a striking article titled “Astrology: Racket or Science?” — a piece that examined the popularity of horoscopes, fortune tellers, and astrology among African Americans.
For readers in the United States, this was more than just entertainment news. It was a reflection of how people turned to alternative sources of wisdom and guidance in an uncertain age. With the Cold War escalating, racial tensions deepening, and the Civil Rights Movement beginning to stir, the popularity of astrology and soothsayers said much about the search for hope, security, and direction.
The year 1954 was one of the most important in African American history. Just days after this issue hit the newsstands, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This ruling would energize the modern Civil Rights Movement and forever change the course of American society.
At the same time, African Americans were navigating life in a segregated world. In cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, Black communities were vibrant and growing, yet opportunities were still restricted by racism and discrimination. For many, institutions like the church, the press, and even cultural practices like astrology provided both escape and empowerment.
Jet Magazine played a critical role in documenting these dynamics. Founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson, Jet was designed as a weekly digest of African American news and culture. Its mission was to report stories that mainstream white publications ignored. Whether it was civil rights protests, celebrity features, or community controversies, Jet gave African Americans a platform to see themselves, their struggles, and their triumphs.
In this context, the “Astrology: Racket or Science?” article carried weight. It showed how seriously Jet took its responsibility to reflect both the lighthearted and the serious, the entertaining and the thought-provoking.
By the 1950s, astrology was a booming business in the United States. Jet reported that an estimated 5,000 African American astrologers, prophets, and soothsayers were active across the country. They promised to do everything from selecting winning lottery numbers to finding husbands for lonely women.
In Black communities, these astrologers were more than fortune tellers. They sold “faithful wife” horoscopes, luck charms, “pep pills,” and zodiac readings that promised to help couples conceive children or find success. Jet noted that their services reached deeply into households, providing comfort or counsel at a time when African Americans faced constant struggles with racism, poverty, and social exclusion.
The article offered vivid stories. One example described a Washington, D.C. housewife who sent an SOS to an astrologer for help in winning back her straying husband. She received a packet including a horoscope chart, a love-charm perfume, and a bill for $10. Another account told of women who turned to astrologers after heartbreak, only to find themselves more deeply entangled in dependency on soothsayers.
Jet presented these stories with a blend of skepticism and understanding. Were astrologers providing meaningful guidance, or were they simply exploiting the vulnerable? The article asked the question directly: “Racket or Science?”
The cover of the May 6, 1954 Jet Magazine set the tone immediately. It featured a photograph of a smiling African American couple under the headline: “Men Who Married Models.” Like many Jet covers, it was both glamorous and intriguing, designed to stand out on crowded newsstands.
Jet’s pocket-sized format was one of its defining features. At just 4 x 6 inches, it could fit into a purse or jacket pocket, making it easy to pass around in barbershops, beauty salons, and living rooms. The covers were bold, often red-framed, and featured images that spoke to both aspiration and controversy.
Inside, the astrology feature was typical of Jet’s editorial style. The magazine didn’t shy away from sensitive topics, whether it was exposing corruption, reporting on racial injustice, or dissecting cultural trends. In this case, astrology was treated not as a joke, but as a real phenomenon worth analyzing. Jet included voices from skeptics who dismissed astrologers as frauds, as well as believers who swore by their advice.
What made Jet powerful was precisely this balance: reporting, photography, and commentary woven together into a narrative that reflected the full spectrum of Black life.
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The Washington Case – A desperate wife received “love-charm perfume” and horoscope advice to win back her husband, highlighting the personal stakes of astrology.
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Astrologers as Businesspeople – Jet noted that astrology was not just about predictions but also about selling products — pills, perfumes, and charms.
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Community Divides – While many sought guidance, others viewed astrologers as exploiters who preyed on the weak or lonely.
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Enduring Popularity – Despite criticism, astrology was portrayed as growing in popularity among African Americans, with new practitioners entering the field every year.
Together, these highlights underscored the cultural role astrology played in 1950s Black America: part spiritualism, part commerce, part comfort.
For collectors of vintage magazines, the May 6, 1954 Jet Magazine is especially significant.
Why?
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Cultural Snapshot – This issue captures a moment when astrology was booming in African American communities, offering a window into mid-century Black culture.
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Historical Timing – Coming just days before Brown v. Board of Education, this issue reflects the atmosphere of anticipation and change that defined 1954.
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Iconic Format – Jet’s small size, bold design, and mix of glamour and controversy make its issues highly collectible today.
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Family Heritage – Many families seek issues like this to preserve their cultural history, connecting to the conversations their parents and grandparents once had.
Owning a copy of this issue is more than holding paper. It is holding a time capsule of African American history, culture, and resilience.
Jet’s coverage endures because it was honest, fearless, and community-centered. Mainstream publications ignored African American life, or reduced it to stereotypes. Jet documented the full truth — from the joyous to the painful, from the glamorous to the scandalous.
The astrology article is a perfect example. On the surface, it might look like light reading. But in reality, it reveals how African Americans sought hope and guidance in the face of systemic oppression. It reflects resilience, creativity, and the human need for meaning.
For today’s readers, issues like this remain fascinating because they show not just the civil rights milestones but also the everyday cultural practices that shaped African American identity.
If this issue fascinates you, you’ll want to explore more. Browse the full collection of original Jet magazines here: Original Jet Magazines Collection.
There you’ll find:
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Civil rights coverage of marches, protests, and court victories.
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Profiles of iconic leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall.
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Cultural commentary on fashion, film, music, and social trends.
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Controversial features like this astrology article, which captured debates within the community.
Each issue is a living artifact of African American life and culture.
The May 6, 1954 issue of Jet Magazine, featuring the article “Astrology: Racket or Science?”, remains one of the most fascinating windows into mid-century Black America. It revealed not only the growing popularity of astrology among African Americans, but also the cultural debates about faith, science, and exploitation.
Today, this issue endures as a collectible artifact of African American history. It preserves a moment when the community was on the brink of monumental change, balancing tradition, hope, and new ideas about the future.
For anyone who values history, vintage Jet magazines are not just old paper — they are powerful voices from the past, still speaking with clarity and relevance today.