Toward a Systematic Typology of Black Folk Healers

The diversity of ethnomedicine among blacks in the US is discussed by focusing on the multiplicity of folk healers associated with it. A four-fold typology of black folk healers that considers their institutional context & the breadth/specificity of their practices is presented. The activities of the four types of healers (independent generalists, independent specialists, cultic generalists, & cultic specialists) are described. Noting the limitations of typologies, it is contended that the traditions of the various kinds of black folk healers described are not only interrelated, but also exhibit a pattern of dynamic change & adaptation to conditions within the black community & the racist & SC structure of the larger society. 1 Figure. AA.