Caroline Tracy Dye, known as “Aunt Caroline,” was a well-respected seer whose name was popularized in Arkansas and the Mid-South in the early - twentieth century. The fact that she was an uneducated African American made her popularity all the more unusual at the time.
Caroline was born a slave in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and moved to Arkansas when she was a young adult. Although she was not a musician, she was widely mentioned in blues music.
Her Childhood
Caroline exhibited her incredible abilities as a little girl. She was helping to set the table for Thanksgiving dinner when she was 10 years old and still a slave on the plantation. She began to protest that not enough plates had been set on the table and that Mister Charley was on his way. The brother of the Plantation owner, Charley, was believed to have died four years earlier during the Civil War. Sure enough, Charley arrived at the door later that day. The family found it impossible to believe.
He explained how he had been injured, imprisoned, and was only given the chance to return home that day. Nobody has ever understood how she could have foreseen an event like that, and ever since then, all of her seemingly random coincidences have been brought to light.
“White and colored would go to her. You sick in bed, she raise the sick. … Had that much brains — smart lady. … That’s the kind of woman she was. Aunt Caroline Dye, she was the worst woman in the world. Had that much sense.”– Band Leader Will Shade
Caroline Tracy’s parents’ names are unknown, and there has been an surplus of conflicting information through the years about her date of birth and early life. A 1918 obituary described her as eighteen at the beginning of the Civil War, which would put her birth year around 1843; however, the 1880 federal census records her age as twenty-seven, which would put her birth year at 1853. Her tombstone records her age in 1918 at 108, which would put her birth around 1810; this seems unlikely, as it would have her giving birth to a child in her late fifties.
“She was born into slavery in Spartanburg, South Carolina, shortly after the death of her parents’ slave master, Mr.William Tracy. His widow, Nancy, later moved with her family and slaves to Arkansas, settling near present-day Rosie (Independence County). Caroline Tracy had an infant daughter, Hannah, before the death of Nancy Tracy in 1861. All of the slaves, including Caroline Tracy, were the property of the Tracy estate until they were freed after the Civil War.Tracy later moved to Elgin (Jackson County), where she married Martin Dye on June 16, 1867. They had one child, a baby girl named Mary, who unfortunately died at eleven months.Over the years, they together, raised several children who were not their own( including one or more children who were Martin’s but not Caroline’s) and occasionally helped the mentally ill.
It was after Dye moved to Newport (Jackson County) that her reputation began to grow. She never claimed to be a fortune teller; the title was given to her by others.
Historian John Quincy Wolf wrote that, in a 400-mile radius from Newport, “Aunt Caroline” was well known by President Woodrow Wilson. She had a large clientele from all over the Mid-South, with an particularly strong following from Memphis, Tennessee. Many peoplearrived in Newport Arkansas from Memphis by way of a train; known locally as the “Caroline Dye Special.”
Her clients were both Black and white, and most showed their appreciation by paying her a few dollars for a reading, although payment was not required. it was reported that Dye refused to do readings on matters of love. Dye reported that she received 20-30 letters a day, with most including money for her services. It was said that some prominent white businessmen of Jackson County would never make important decisions before consulting her. All day long, people crowded into her home in Newport waiting for a reading. She took advantage of the large number of visitors and even sold hot meals from her house.”( Encyclopedia of Arkansas)
“Well, I’m going to Newport just to see Aunt Caroline Dye.
Well, I’m going to Newport just to see Aunt Caroline Dye.
She’s a fortune teller, Ooh Lord, She sure don’t tell no lie.”
– Hoo Doo Women, Johnny Temple
Caroline Dye is also the person referenced in the third verse of the Howlin’ Wolf song “Wang Dang Doodle”: “Tell Peg and Caroline Dye, we gonna have a time.” Howlin’ Wolf lived in the West Memphis area for many years.- J. L. Richter
Her Success
While she invested in farmland and rental property with the money she earned, she also purchased Liberty Loan Bonds to support the war effort. On September 26, 1918, "Aunt" Caroline Dye of Newport, Arkansas, passed away.In later years, many people searched for the gold that she was rumored to have buried around Newport.
Dye reportedly only used a deck of playing cards to help her concentration and would not give readings about love or the outcome of WW1; she did, however, tell many people the location of strayed or stolen livestock, sometimes giving specific directions, and she helped people locate missing jewelry. She gave visions of the future for her clients and offered advice on missing persons.
In one case, she was consulted about the guilt of a man arrested for assault near Austin (Lonoke County). She enjoyed confronting skeptics before they uttered a word and many times told them of situations about themselves that she could not have previously known. It was said that she even predicted Newport’s future great Fire of 1926, which wiped out a large part of the town some eight years after her death.
Caroline Dye’s gravestone at the Gum Grove Cemetery in Newport
(Jackson County); 2008.
This is an intriguing Arkansas anecdote of an uneducated African American woman who made a fortune as a landowner, landlord, and, most significantly, as a seer and hoodoo practitioner despite not knowing how to read or write. Despite never being a musician, she is one of the most widely depicted women in Delta Blues. It would take too long to mention all of the great Blues musicians who referenced her reputation in their songs.
And she told my fortune as I walked through the door.
And she told my fortune as I walked through the door.
Said, “I’m sorry for you Buddy. Ooh Lord, your woman don’t want you no more.”
– Hoo Doo Women, Johnny Temple
Governor Donaghey had absolute trust in her skills. Donaghey, the governor-elect, objected to being sworn in on a Friday or the 13th of the month. On "hoodoo" day, he stated, he had no desire to take the oath of office. He gave the following response when asked when he believed the inauguration would occur: "Probably Thursday, July 14, or Monday, July 18. It seems sense that Wednesday the 13th would be a horrible day. It would never be Friday. - Article from the New York Times, dated January 6, 1909.
Aunt Caroline Dye she told me, “Son, these women don’t mean you no good.” Aunt Caroline Dye she told me, “Son, these women don’t mean you no good.”Said, “Take my advice and don’t monkey with none in your neighborhood” – Aunt Caroline Dyer Blues, The Memphis Jug Band 1930
Celebrated by many, feared by most, Caroline Dye is a superior example of a strong Arkansas woman who profoundly affected our history. Through the Delta Blues, many of her lessons are still available to the masses. An atypical muse, Caroline influenced some of the greatest blues songs ever written, maybe even the best blues song ever written- W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues.
Now dat gypsy tole her, “Don’t you wear no black,
Now dat gypsy tole her, “Don’t you wear no black,
Go to St. Louis, you can win him back”
– St. Louis Blues, W.C. Handy
Check out my YouTube video I did on Aunt Caroline. May her Legacy live on forever. It is my honor to share the story of 1 of the most prominent women in African American history.
